Folded surface

2018 
21st International Friuli Venezia Giulia Stone Sculpture Symposium 

Fior di Pesco Carnico Marble

Itinerari nel Rojale

Folded surface

To speak of stone sculpture is to think of weight, gravity and stability. Algirdas Kuzma chose to challenge these very characteristics, demonstrating that a block of Fior di Pesco Carnico marble can resemble a crumpled sheet of paper. 

The solidity of marble and the fragility of paper — is it simply a contrast? There is much more in his work: a departure from the physical laws that dictate the appearance and transformation of things; a sense of communion with all that exists, particularly with the vulnerability of matter; and perhaps also a challenge launched by the sculptor against his own limits and those of the stone itself. 

The sculptural work Folded Surface (“Superficie pieghevole”) is therefore the combined result of philosophical reflection, technical skill and a desire to surprise the viewer. As if protected by a circular form that embraces them, solids and voids respond to one another in harmonious balance, just as in the accidental folds of a crumpled sheet of paper. 

The challenge has been won — yet it has not altered reality, nor was that its intention. The smooth, polished base reminds us that marble remains marble, supporting every bold idea. 

— Cristina Noacco

Growing up in a family of artists offered Algirdas Kuzma the opportunity to confront his creative abilities from an early age. His father, a sculptor, instilled in him the desire to paint and model since childhood, shaping an educational path that led him to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vilnius. 

Experimentation with different materials encouraged him to explore various techniques and dimensions. What matters most to him is the creative process itself — the dialogue with form and matter, which continues to fascinate him in every work. 

He favours abstract forms, through which he highlights the very essence of matter. 

In Folded Surface, we see how the artist sought to enhance the colours of Fior di Pesco Carnico marble, contrasting the smooth, flat surface on one side with the chiaroscuro movement of the other. Through irregular cuts and folds emphasised by plays of light and shadow, he transforms the material, making it appear more flexible and lighter — like a crumpled sheet of paper. 

The result is a dynamic work, seemingly relieved of its weight and placed in dialogue with the viewer, suggesting new perspectives.

Algirdas Kuzma

He was born in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. His artistic training was completed at the Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, where he graduated in 1996 and specialized with a Master's degree in Sculpture in 1998. 

He has exhibited in several group and solo exhibitions in Lithuania and Poland since 1997 and has participated in International Sculpture Symposia since 1998 in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

His sculptures can be found in various squares and public spaces in his city Vilnius.