Artfully Exercising

In the spring of 2020 I began a daily physical fitness routine in an effort to lower stress and deal with some pervading life issues. Three years into my regimen, fitness has gone from being somewhat of a knee jerk response to specific emotional and cognitive fears and feelings to a lifestyle choice which I am proudly embracing and expanding upon (you can read more about my fitness journey via my newsletter Artfully Exercising). In addition to researching and applying the physical aspects of exercise, I have been honing in on some of the ways art has referenced physical fitness and our personal and cultural insights regarding exercise. There are many instances of when art and physical training coincide; a recent example being Augustas Serapinas’ Čiurlionis Gym (2023).

Upon seeing footage of Čiurlionis Gym on the social media feed of a friend from the art field, I felt a kindred connection to the young Lithuanian artist. Having a background in the arts and a passion and dedication to fitness and personal training, it motivates me when I see others who combine the two disciplines.

Serapinas is clearly a dedicated artist and a fitness enthusiast. The case in point is his installation of sculptural fitness equipment that merges the aesthetics and functionality of a high class gym and art gallery. The initial installation of Čiurlionis Gym took place at Art Basel, which adds to the performative and exhibitionist concepts behind the work of art, and highlights the focus on aesthetics and rigor in both art and fitness communities.

Researching the work further, I was elated to learn that there is also an educational themed component. Čiurlionis Gym was influenced by Serapinas’ experiences as a student at the National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Art in Lithuania (named after one of Lithuania’s best known modern artists, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis). The school employs a very traditional pedagogical framework focused on building technical skills in the plastic arts (i.e. drawing, painting and sculpture) by having students copy what they see in nature, and making recreations of classical artworks, such as ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. The plaster replicas of classical sculpture he made in art school are incorporated into the design of the fitness equipment in Čiurlionis Gym. During the opening day of Art Basel, Serapinas and a group of performers exercised with the equipment for five straight hours; and subsequently performed in intervals of thirty minute sweat sessions throughout the duration of the five day long art fair.

Reflecting on the labor intensive nature of making art and working out, Čiurlionis Gym prompts us to consider, and perhaps reconsider, our ideals for education, art and physical training methods that are based on a mimicry of classical forms and actions. These standards typically ignore the fact that we each embody distinct physical, cultural and intellectual identities that are best addressed on a basis that is best for our overall well-being.

Being active is not always indicative of a “gym body.” As we know from the field of education, not everyone learns the same way, therefore lesson plans need to be differentiated and flexible in order to teach to the whole student. The same goes for physical activity. Planning a fitness routine is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, because everyone’s physical goals and needs are distinct. While working out will certainly provide physical results; the arts can be just as transformative in terms of building strong personal and collective perceptions of body positivity and wellness.

Art, education and exercise are each functional disciplines that enable us to exhibit and express self love and compassion for others. The best routine is one that empowers us to be good to ourselves, and obtain an equilibrium of good health, happiness and success in whatever endeavors and experiences we find meaningful.