In September, 2010 an international group of artists called Local to Local is coming to Lithuania. The group has been established in 2006 in Stuttgart. It is comprised of six members, namely Kęstutis Svirnelis (Lithuania), Gabriela Oberkofler (Italy), Ilke Yilmaz (Turkey), Jangyoung Jung (South Korea), Markus Ambach and Andreas Geisselhardt (Germany). They have gathered together in order to implement a five-year long project in their home countries. The artists have started in 2007 with the project Made in Germany in South Korea, while in 2008 the group has initiated Institute for Alpine affairs in a village of Flaas situated in mountains, in Italy (as an attendant event, the project was included in the programme of contemporary art biennale Manifesta7, taking place at the same time). In 2009 the residence of BÜYÜKADA RESORT RESIDENCE took place in Turkey. After working together for almost four years, Local to Local decided to come to Lithuania. For two weeks the artists are going to implement their creative ideas in the former Soviet Union underground ballistic missile base and military village, that are located not far from Plateliai. Then, the artists will make an exposition of their works Dvina Silo Art Complex in Plokštinė, and will present a retrospective exposition of their creative work, their activity and the project of Plokštinė in Vilnius.
Local to Local creative work is based on the strategy of centrifugal creation, opposing metropolitans which are traditionally titled as the most important art centres. The group creates in geographical/cultural periphery and avoids prestigious expositional spaces. In their creative work they refer to site specific art strategies. The core of the group comprised of six artists is often complemented by local as well as foreign guest creators when implementing each new project. The group aims at gathering people of different cultures and different world views, who discuss global and cultural topics using the language of art. The activity of Local to Local is a peculiar cultural express, which constantly moves towards sociocultural analysis as well as personal experiences. The first project Made in Germany implemented in South Korea, has encouraged the geographical expansion of the activity encompassing all native countries of the six members of the group as well as involving more and more artists into the creative work. According to Local to Local, the former base of rockets in Plokštinė is an exceptional place, representing one of the relicts of Cold War power in Lithuania. The place perfectly conforms to the conception of the group‘s activity.
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* It was the first tactical underground base of ballistic missiles of Dvina type of the Soviet Union. It is comprised of 4 ferroconcrete launching devices for missiles, which have domes on the ground surface covering premises and mines designed for control, launching and electricity generators. Ten thousand of soldiers have been building the base since 1960 up to 1962, most of them being Estonians. In the underground part of the base dark narrow passages and small premises with massive iron doors are set. The surface rocket site was surrounded by barbed wire and protected by signalization and protection zone of high voltage electricity lines. Subject of the political situation the missiles could have been targeted at Spain, Great Britain, Norway, Turkey, West Germany. In 1978, after the reconnaissance services of the USA have found out of the base, it was abandoned. Later a pioneer camp Žuvėdra was set there. Children affected by the radiation of Chernobyl catastrophe took a rest there. Since 1995 the former rocket base has been functioning as the military museum.

Participants

Local to Local:
Kęstutis Svirnelis (Lithuania)
Markus Ambach (Germany)
Andreas Geisselhardt (Germany)
Ilke Yilmaz (Turkey)
Jang-Young Jung (South Korea)
Gabriela Oberkofler (Italy)
Guests:
Pablo Wendel (Group EXP. Germany)
Demian Bern (Group EXP. Germany)
Krzysztof Franaszek (Poland)
Juozas Laivys (Lithuania)
Andrius Kviliūnas (Lithuania)
Sergej Balandin (Russia)
Justina Nekrašaitė (Lithuania)
Akvilė Kalinaitė (Lithuania)

The programme of events:

·September 29, in the gallery of Vilnius Graphic Art Centre Kairė-dešinė:
16.00 – Press conference on the project Dvina Silo Art Complex
With a presence of Local to Local and the art critic Prof. Dr. Raminta Jurėnaitė
·19.00 – The opening of the retrospective exposition of the group Local to Local
The exposition will be open till October 16, 2010.
The exposition presents documentary material and works of art created during the projects Made in Germany (Openspace Bae, South Korea, 2007), Institute for Alpine affairs (Flaas, Italy, 2008) and BÜYÜKADA RESORT RESIDENCE (Büyükada Island, Turkey, 2009)

·October 02, 15.00
The opening of the exposition Dvina Silo Art Complex
In the rocket base of Plokštinė, village of Plokštinė, Plungė district.*
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* People willing to participate in the opening event on October 2, will be offered a special booked transportation for only a symbolic fee of 10 lt.

Organizers:
Vilnius Graphic Art Centre, Local to Local

Sponsors and partners:
Culture Support Fund of the Republic of Lithuania, Ministry of Wissenschaft, Ministry of Culture of Baden-Württenberg, Goethe Institute in Lithuania, Cultural Attaché of Lithuania in Germany Federal Republic, Union of Artists of Lithuania, Vilnius Art Academy, PJSC „Ekspobalta“, PJSC „Upartas“, Žemaitija National Park Direction.

More information about Local to Local projects:
Institute for Alpine affairs (Italy) 1
Institute for Alpine affairs (Italy) 2
BÜYÜKADA RESORT RESIDENCE (Turkey)

Lithuanian graphic art exhibition “graphic.LT” in VERLA museum (01-28 June, 2010)
Artists: Lida Dubauskienė, Kęstutis Grigaliūnas, Eglė Kuckaitė, Evaldas Mikalauskis, Petras Repšys, Rolandas Rimkūnas, Birutė Zokaitytė

Lithuanian graphic art exhibition „graphic.LT“ contains over 30 prints collection created by mostly using traditional graphic art techniques. The collection is based on prints by seven nowadays middle generation graphic artists and represents contemporary Lithuanian graphics. Creation of participating artists are widely presented and well known in local as well as international visual art context. In spite of the particularity of the authors, their artistic languages contain similar motives, topics and ideas.

Organizer: Vilnius Graphic Art centre
Exhibition “graphic.LT” is supported by Lithuanian Culture Fund

On November 21, 2008, at 18 o’clock in Vilnius city gallery „Kairė-dešinė“ a group of artists consisting of Austė Jurgelionytė, Karolina Kunčinaitė, Miglė Lebednykaitė, Rasa Leonavičiūtė, Laura Pavilonytė, Julija Vosyliūtė will present a new calalogue of their creative work and four most important art projects „Mandala“ (2003), „Spiros“ (2005), „Šventė“ (2006), „Miškan...“ (2007/2008).

Guests from Latvia are going to participate in the event. One of them is a designer of the catalogue Dāvis Līcītis and Kaspars Lielgalvis, a co-author of the newest - yet not presented art project „Miškan“/”Into the forest”.

During the event visual material from the exhibition will be presented. The exhibition took place in August – September, 2008, in a modern art museum of Rosario city (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Rosario (MACRO), Argentina), where art projects were exhibited. That was the second exhibition in Argentina, presented by the group of 6 artists, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their creative work year. In July, 2008, the artists have presented their works in the centre of museums - Centro de los Museos de Buenos Aires. Their exhibition was opened by Mr. Jonas Jučas, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. His excellence President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus also attended the event. The exhibition was organized by Lithuanian Embassy in Argentina in cooperation with Mr. Ruben Repšys, Lithuanian Consul of Honour in Santa Fe province.

In the whole Eastern and Central Europe since 1990 a new abating tendency became significant. Young artists rejected individualism and joined into groups. They started to willingly take up a collective creation. If before that art creators used to form groups with an aim to propagate similar art programmes or organize similar exhibitions, so this time these junctions are much closer. A very important aspect of those groups – a joint work, from an idea to its final realization. A work of an individual creator disgorge into a collective project, although a creator can implement individual ideas in parallel as well. These new groups of artists do not confine themselves in one single field. They alternate traditional means of expression with actions of creation, video art, photographies, installations. Next to creative works of big format, the artists create small artifacts. They devote much attention not only to ideas but also to their impellent expression as well as their skills.

The women of the artist group are very mobile. They invoke new communications and their organization skills maintain international relationships. They are able to implement artistic projects of different kind in different time and in various conditions.

Groups of young artists of Eastern and Central Europe are united by an open cosmopolitan posture, oriented to widest possible field of artistic activity. A passive position of a waiting and being invited artist was replaced by active and organizational activity. Groups of artists propagate their art. Their members not only show themselves abroad, but also organize events in their home countries, looking for an interaction with foreign creators.

A group of artists “Baltos kandys”/ “White moths” (A. Jurgelionytė, K. Kunčinaitė, M. Lebednykaitė, R. Leonavičiūtė, L. Pavilonytė, J. Vosyliūtė) consists of six textile workers, working together since 1998. It is a group of the character described above. They are carry equal responsibility and professionally accomplish most of their exhibitions, actions, ideas of architectural space, of creative works, studies and educational projects. Geography of art projects is wide and include Edinburgh, Moscow, Shanghais, Düsseldorf, Paris, Bodenburg, Kyoto, Hogan, Muzonas, San Tropez, Rovinji, Warsaw, Drachten, Riga, Buenos Aires, Rosario as well as Lithuanian cities, among which are Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevėžys, Šiauliai, Anykščiai, Kėdainiai, Klaipėda, Molėtai, Utena ir Nida.

Members of this group are unrestful pilgrimlike beings, therefore reminding of real moths, who unrestfully struggle to each time new territories. Many more hints hide behind the title of the group. Firstly, the title hints to a means of expression chosen by the creators, which is a felt tangled, formed and dyed manually. It attracts them no less than the real moths, but as if “the white” side or form of them, positive one. The artists contrary to moths, create, but not destruct the material. These textile workers became interested in felt when studying in Vilnius Art Academy. Together with their lecturer, Eglė Ganda Bogdanienė, they have organized the international symposium about felt in Lithuania, in 1998. In order to know this technology better, they tried to get knowledge from primary sources. Therefore they arranged that symposium would be visited by a textile professor from Alma, Ms. Saolė Bopanova, who have told about her experience. She has been famous for many years in Central Asia for cherishing the old felt making tradition of Central Asia.

The group “Baltos kandys”/ “White moths” became really skilled in felt technique. Now they create not only traditional flat carpets, felt or pictures, but also innovatory apply felt for three-dimensional objects. Women tangle creative works which are big, of sculpture forms. They set creations in interiors, outside spaces in forms of installations consisting of tiny three-dimensional details from felt. With the same passion the artists experiment with colors. Lithuanian women replace traditional bright and contrast colors, graphics and many ornaments, so typical to Central Asia with bright, however interflowing colors as if in painting art, or sometimes choose to make monochromatic views. They neglect graphical outline threads which is characteristic to felts of Central Asia. The Lithuanians also experiment by specking the felt, using technologies which are known to be used for dyeing silk or cotton.

Rosemarič Trodul in her conceptual creative work used knitting. She has choosen this typically female technology ironically. “Baltos kandys”/ “White moths” – on the contrary, choose felt as having positive archaic traditions connected to a women’s activity, which is able to provide us with warmth, security, and possibility to express ourselves in a creative way. Therefore they devote much attention for felt relation with a human body. From this a tendency to various improvisations, playful elements, artistic actions arise. In most of created textile objects the artists reject autonomy of a creative work. They become symbolic attributes used in art actions. Particularly in these actions the attributes influence the constant change of art works.

All artworks by “Baltos kandys”/”White months”, including felt pictures, sculpture objects, space compositions, installations, actions, photography, video films, accessories, are united by bright soft materials, poetry of images, bright thought, idea, and happy mood. The creative work of “Baltos kandys”/ “White moths” remind of a celebrative ritual, which is full of happiness, energy, or game. They manage to deliver this to people. This way moths can be white.

Prof. dr. Raminta Jurėnaitė

On June 16, 2008, "A Cycle of Lectures'08" has started in Vilnius Graphic Art Centre. The event which already takes place for the second year, this year became an international event. Together with local speakers, speakers from abroad participate as well. On October 14, at 18.00 all the willing are invited to listen to the lecture "A World in Books" presented by the artist from New York Yasuyo Tanaka ».

On June 16, the report „Tales told – about active imagination and doubt" was read by Nina Bondeson » (Sweden).

Since the year 2003, Vilnius Graphic Art Centre annually organizes workshops. During them skilled local as well as guest artists from abroad deliver their knowledge for the artists who are willing to learn more or to improve their knowledge. In October, 2008 a workshop on bookbinding is organized “From Print to Bookbinding”. It is aimed at professional artists, students of art studies and newly graduated young artists, who perceive the book as an alternative creative form of expression and seek to get acquainted with essential principles of a book structure and the history of a book. During the courses the topics of a book structure and content relation are going to be discussed. During the three days’ workshop Ms. Yasuyo Tanaka will present several types of bookbinding. Artists who participate will be given an opportunity to try each of them in practice.

During the period of workshops, the exhibition of graphic artworks of Ms. Yasuyo Tanaka will take place in the Graphic Art Centre Gallery “Kairė-dešinė“. The exhibition will be called “From Key to Key”. Also, the artist will present the report continuing the events of “The Cycle of Lectures’08”, called “A World in Books”.

YASUYO TANAKA

Eglė Kuckaitė "That note". 2006, monotype, 51×65 cm.

Artists: Lida Dubauskienė, Eglė Kuckaitė, Eglė Vertelkaitė, Birutė Zokaitytė

Moderator of the exhibition: Jurga Minčinauskienė

Organizations of the project: Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius Graphic Art Centre and the gallery of Contemporary Art Centre of Kiev „Ja galerija”.

This exhibition is a part of a joint Lithuanian-Ukrainian art project “4+4”. During it, in 2008 and 2009, four contemporary art exhibitions will be held in Kiev as well as four Ukrainian contemporary art exhibitions will take place in Lithuania. In April, 2008, the project „4+4“ has been started by a contemporary Lithuanian photography art exhibition “Own Alien”, which took place in the gallery of contemporary art centre “Ja galerija”. In July, another contemporary Ukrainian photography exhibition “Ukrainian school” was opened in Vilnius. In November the project will be continued by contemporary Ukrainian graphic art exposition in Vilnius Graphic Art Centre. During the project “4+4” a separate catalogue of each exhibition will be published.

The contemporary Lithuanian graphic art in not accidentally represented by four artists of middle generation, namely Lida Dubauskienė, Eglė Kuckaitė, Eglė Vertelkaitė and Birutė Zokaitytė. They have graduated Vilnius Art Academy at similar time and soon acquired their individual ways of creation. They found their individual art languages. Today these creators are one of the most active participants in Lithuanian graphic art scene. Their creative work is widely presented in local as well as international art arena. In prestigious events of graphic art they are quite often evaluated and receive the highest awards. 36 imprints are presented in the exhibition, which are made by using mainly traditional graphic techniques. In spite of the uniqueness of these authors, close motives twist around in their artistic languages as well as themes, plots, states. What is especially apparent is the interpretation of a woman’s image and the feminity theme, which is connected with biological, social and cultural oneness of the woman.

The exhibition presents a cycle of imprints created by Lida Dubauskienė, which were created during the latest years. This cycle of imprints, under the title “A Room” attracts attention because it does not have a plot. This forms a specific principle for “reading” and analyzing artworks, which is independent from context (still) popular in art (cultural, political, social, etc.).

In the exhibition of Eglė Kuckaitė, which is one of the most interesting Lithuanian artists of today, monotypes are presented. The monotypes are distinct by their simplicity and elegant finesse. In the cycle of monotypes, as in the whole creative work of the artist, images of a woman constantly being analyzed appear very different and associative.

Eglė Vertelkaitė – the only one of the participants in the exhibition who combines traditional and digital graphic art. The characteristic features of the artist’s graphic works are usually deliberately lengthened horizontal flats and linear structure. Lines that the artist draws manually on the surface of canvas remind of minimalist and unrelated parallels. In imprints they become hidden messages and metaphors.

Birutė Zokaitytė is mostly interested in the traditional woman - since this is who she is - hiding behind a mask of a careerist or feminist. In other words, being a careerist or feminist is not the same status, framed in time, as pregnancy, cooking, flight into cosmos, brushing of the daughter‘s hair or fighting for the home country. Because what is feminine is the soul or psychological status (since even men happen to have feminine souls!) – that is what the artist visually presents in her creative work.

On July 16, all who are willing to listen to Nina Bondeson’s (Sweden) report „Tales Told – about active imagination and doubt“ are invited to come.

The report will be followed by an exhibition of the graphic artworks of Nina Bondeson in the gallery of Vilnius Graphic Art Centre “Kairė – dešinė” – "Signora Canedotto order of things " .

„ ...there is a mainstream opinion that a plot of an artwork allows to understand and know the artist himself/herself better, since the artwork might even be his/her soul reflection. I would dare to neglect this – about the artist you could not find out anything from an artwork. But after seeing a really good artwork, some things might emerge about yourselves…”

Nina Bondeson

NINA BONDESON

At night from 21 to 22 June, 2008 people walking in the Old Town of Vilnius were invited to see an installation of shining hand made paper objects. The title of the installation was “rasos”/”dew”. The cozy lighten Latako Street that night of June invited everybody to have a look and admire the creative light objects of different artists created specially for this event. Together with a public uproar of the city, the street of Latako invited to traditionally “Rasos” called Lithuanian celebration of summer sun returning. Passersby had an opportunity to walk the daily route in not everyday manner. Unique creative ideas of artists are realized in shining objects which are connected to symbolism of “Rasos” celebration, traditions and images. The shining torches made to stop at every object and admire the interpretations of artistic images of traditional Lithuanian celebration as well as reborn face of the Old Town streets.

Authors of torches:
Čepkauskas Vitalis
Datkūnaitė Miglė
Gindrėnas Tadas
Juršytė Agnė
Kairytė Danutė
Kriaučiūnaitė Elvyra Katalina
Lingys Vytenis
Marcelionytė Marija
Matiukienė Karina
Radavičiūtė Diana
Šumskytė Raminta
Valčik Renata
Žmuidienė Rasa

The first silkscreen workshop was guided by the professional graphic artist Kęstutis Grigaliūnas, who is one of the most active promoters of this technique in Lithuania. Active practical activities became a significant impulse not only for each participant of the workshop, but they also complemented to further popularity of this technique and spread in Lithuania. Considering the huge interest in the seminar and active involvement of the participants, it is planned to definitely organize events of similar kind in future, targeted at the young artists.

]]> http://www.graphic.lt/en/seminar-on-mastery-of-serigraphy/1283/feed 0 http://www.graphic.lt/en/discussion-about-talinn-graphic-art-triennial/1288 http://www.graphic.lt/en/discussion-about-talinn-graphic-art-triennial/1288#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:03:31 +0000 kristina http://www.graphic.lt/?p=1288 On 17 October, 2007 in Kumu museum in Tallinn the 14th Tallinn graphic art triennial „Political & Poetical“ was opened. It presented the graphic art of three Lithuanian artists including Naglis Rytis Baltušnikas, Kęstutis Grigaliūnas, Eglė Vertelkaitė. Also, since 16 October, 2007 in Tallinn City Gallery a personal exhibition of Eglė Vertelkaitė took place, who was announced the Grand Prix winner in the 13th Tallinn graphic art triennial. The personal exhibition was called “Feelings tired of thinking. Appropriate tense considering a child’s understanding”. On 12 November, 2007 in Vilnius Graphic Art Centre an open discussion was organized to talk about impressions brought from Tallinn graphic art triennial. Discussion actively involved the artists who have participated in the triennial as well as art critics, journalists, students of Vilnius Art Academy. An extensive video material was presented and many discussions were touching the topics of Tallinn graphic art triennial traditions, changes and perspectives. The discussion included the topic of our country’s representation of graphic art in the triennial and other international events, topicalities of this as well as problems.

]]> http://www.graphic.lt/en/discussion-about-talinn-graphic-art-triennial/1288/feed 0 http://www.graphic.lt/en/lux-%e2%80%93-international-light-festival/1294 http://www.graphic.lt/en/lux-%e2%80%93-international-light-festival/1294#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:10:55 +0000 kristina http://www.graphic.lt/?p=1294

Project „GRAF‘drive“

2007 11 09 - 11 11

GRAF’drive – the title by its sounding not accidentally connects with one of many usual everyday rituals of a contemporary society. It is an event during which passersby or passing ones have an opportunity to visit exhibitions of professional art. The ones who choose to stop for a few minutes will have an opportunity to feel the pulse of the contemporary art. People who stay longer will see more than 70 artworks created by different artists. On November 9, at 18:00 the first setting of video projections will take place – the opening of the exhibition GRAF’drive. Also, the COFFEE’drive café will be open.

Participants:

Irma Balakauskaitė
Lida Dubauskienė
Tadas Gindrėnas
Kęstutis Gintalas
Kęstutis Grigaliūnas
Eglė Kuckaitė
Giedrė Mikulskaitė
Diana Radavičiūtė
Laisvydė Šalčiūtė
Nijolė Šaltenytė
Raminta Šumskytė
Saulius Valius
Eglė Vertelkaitė
Birutė Zokaitytė

The main supporter:

Supporters:

„Ekspobalta“
„Spektramed“
„UNESCO Kultūros vadybos ir kultūros politikos katedra VDA“
„Konferencijų ir adiovizualinės sistemos“

Partners:

Coffee-house „Pilies menė“

Kęstutis Grigaliūnas. Horizon. Canvas, acrylic. 95x160 cm

In 2002 and 2004 the exhibitions of artists from Sweden and Finland took place in the gallery „Kairė – Dešinė“ of Vilnius Graphic Art Centre. This was an introduction into further cooperation with Northern countries. It became a nice tradition, activating cultural activity between Lithuanian and Scandinavian artists.

The project „Across“ is a bilateral project between countries, continuing this cooperation. It takes place following the principle of exchange between artists of Vilnius Graphic Art Centre and Norwegian artists from Oslo graphic art gallery „Norske grafikere“; it’s internet site www.norske-grafikere.no.

The first part of the project – exhibitions of Norwegian graphic art in Vilnius will take place in November, 2007, the second one – in June, 2008 is Oslo city. In the gallery of graphic art „Norske grafikere“ artworks of most well-known Lithuanian graphic artists will be presented.

Approximately 10 Norwegian graphic artists participate in the exhibition in Vilnius: Ingrid Haukelidsaeter, Gro Petersen, Anita Tjemsland, Jan Henning Larsen, Ellen Edminson, Gro Hege Bergan, Staale Blaesterdalen, Tom Stian Kosmo, and Arild Yttri.

In Norwegian graphic art different techniques are used (wood carving, aqua fortis, lithography, serigraphy, photo polymer) and there is a wide thematic expression. It balances between Scandinavian daily routine and northern minimalism of nature, figuration, abstraction and decorative manner. Expressivity in Norwegian graphic art became strong after the year of 1895 and left a significant trace in Scandinavian creative work. It is possible to see expressions using colour, form, mood. Norwegians graphic art is moving from classical techniques towards modern technological solutions – combinations of photography and painting appear.

Coordinators of the project:
Inga Dargužytė (Vilnius)
Elisabeth Schjønsby (Norske Grafikere gallery of graphic art in Oslo
www.norske-grafikere.no)