Ieva Saudargaitė Douaihi about ‘Green Room’ at Takeover

Green Room, an installation by Ieva Saudargaitė Douaihi, opening from 19 February until the 11th of March, at Takeover. Inspired by the theatrical green room—a space where performers await their cue—this installation offers glimpses of the artist’s future works, partially concealed beneath a canopy of fresh Tropaeolum leaves. As the leaves wither, they interact unpredictably with the objects below, embodying the delicate balance between control and surrender. Exploring themes of presence, absence, and transformation, Green Room embraces decay as an intrinsic part of creation. The installation remains visible from the street until March 11.

Green Room explores waiting as a societal construct, contrasting it with the organic flow of time in nature. In theater, a green room is where actors wait before reappearing on stage, anticipating and preparing for the next act. However, in the natural world, waiting was never a necessity—time simply flows without pause, expectation, or the demand to be productive. Modern society has imposed waiting as a function of efficiency, always looking ahead and measuring progress, often at the expense of experiencing life fully.

By veiling unfinished works with green leaves, the installation serves as a kind of metaphor for the layers of life and the passage of time. The works remain hidden, waiting for completion, much like how society obsesses over progress while overlooking the present moment. The veil urges viewers to step back and reflect. I wonder how the experience would differ for someone who has encountered the work once versus someone who has seen it transform over time. As the leaves dry, not only do they change colour, but also shape and size – slowly shrinking back and revealing more of what lies beneath.

Your work often explores space and the environment—how does Green Room reflect that?

Indeed, my work is often informed by experiences of spaces and the built and natural environment around me. Every spring I encounter these carpets of ground cover around Beirut; they seem to consume whatever lay on the ground, revealing but soft shapes indicative of what may be hiding below. By utilising those same green leaves to create a veil over my works-in-progress, I blur the boundaries between the natural and the constructed, inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with both.

Was there an element of unpredictability in working with organic materials?

Absolutely. In certain works, I strategically select materials and design systems or methodologies, acknowledging that the inherent properties of these materials will influence the final outcome, which remains uncertain until the creation process is complete. Embracing this uncertainty is both challenging and liberating. it requires trust and surrender, allowing intuition, spontaneity and even failure to become part of the work itself. It’s a conscious refusal of “perfection”, nature and natural cycles are “perfectly flawed” and I resonate with the latter so much more.

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About Ieva Saudargaitė Douaihi

Ieva Saudargaitė Douaihi is a multidisciplinary artist working with photography, installation, and mixed media. With a background in architecture, she explores the interplay between built and natural environments, drawing from her experiences in Lithuania, the UAE, and Lebanon, where she has lived since 2007. Her work uncovers layers of history, culture, and ecology embedded in urban and natural landscapes. Experimenting with image-making, digital art, and found objects, she transforms everyday elements into multidimensional artworks. Recently, she has incorporated plant matter and street materials into her practice, blurring the lines between photography, drawing, and environmental storytelling.

Location: Takeover, Ashrafieh, Beirut

Dates: 19 February – 11 March 2025