Lithuanian designer sends a message of unity and solidarity through K-Totem sculpture in Kortrijk

Lithuanian designer sends a message of unity and solidarity through K-Totem sculpture in Kortrijk

On Thursday 31 March, the new K-Totem sculpture design was unveiled at Kortrijk station. A cultural exchange took place – the design was not created by a Belgian artist, but by Kaunas-based designer Mantas Kuginis.

Just like the sculpture in Kaunas gifted by the Belgians, the K-Totem sculpture in Kortrijk, Belgium, has a new visual identity every three months, giving artists, illustrators and designers the opportunity to show their skills.

A friendship has developed between the cities of Kortrijk and Kaunas, which has now turned into an artistic exchange. Belgian designer Elise Vandeplancke will soon decorate the “K-Totem” sculpture that now adorns Kaunas, while Lithuanian designer Mantas Kuginis designed the “K-Totem” sculpture that stands in Kortrijk.

After becoming a graphic designer, Mantas Kuginis became fascinated with contemporary architecture. He noticed that Kaunas was dominated by angular buildings, but in one place in the city, a clear round shape was chosen: the Kaunas Vienybės Square. It was the architecture of this square that Mantas based K-Totem on. Therefore, his work clearly conveys a message of unity – unity between Kortrijk and Kaunas, as well as unity between Kortrijk, Kaunas, Europe and Ukraine. And although two colors – blue and yellow – were originally chosen for the visual, in line with the European Union’s color scheme, today they have taken on a completely different meaning.