Painting exhibition “Ad ORIGINEM” at Lithuanian Artists’ Association gallery “Arka”, Vilnius

2016 04 12 — 2016 04 30
Author Echo Gone Wrong
Published in Events in Lithuania

Ad Originem. S. Merijauskaite paintings.The exhibition of Lithuanian artists’ represents new, fresh and progressive neo-modern trend of painting. The designation “ad originem” translated from the Latin language expresses the main ambition of the project’s participants – to exhibit the primeval mode of painting which is empathized in their own ways. Two exhibitions have been already held in Vilnius (2013 and 2015, in the Lithuanian Artists’ Association’s Gallery Pamėnkalnis). Additionally, during this period painters arranged solo and duet shows. The activity of these painters is marked with the aim to create the alternative way of thinking and expression, to refuse the low values of commercial, institutionalized contemporary art world. The oeuvres of these painters usually have a sharp dramatic or lyrical character of expression and the deep reflection of abstract form of painting, rooted in the Christian and romantic tradition of aesthetics.

The exhibition is a part of ongoing interchange project organized by Lithuanian and Polish artists. The Lithuanians’ show will be held in Crakow, gallery “Otwarta Pracownia” in September, 2016. The works of Polish artists, the members of artists’ association “Otwarta Pracownia” from Cracow, will be shown in gallery “Arka” in Vilnius, at the end of October, 2016.

Participating artists:

Henrikas Čerapas – professor at the Academy of Arts in Vilnius, a member of Lithuanian Artists’ Association. In 1980-1987 studied painting at the State Art Institute of Lithuania (currently Vilnius Academy of Arts). During the last decades arranged significant solo shows: Ten Years After (2007, Vilnius), Alone on the Road (2014, Kaunas), participates in many important painting exhibitions in Lithuania (mainly with the members of group „Angis“ and in the contemporary triennales of painting) and abroad (in France, Greece, Poland, USA). In 1998–1999 and 2014 – state grant for the creator of culture and art.

Agnė Kulbytė – lecturer at Vilnius Academy of Arts, a member of Lithuanian Artists’ Association. 1997-2003 studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vilnius (graduated in 2007 with art licentiate qualification degree). 2009-2013 studied philosophy at Lithuanian Culture Research Institute in Vilnius (Ph.D., 2014). Since 2000 takes part in group exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad (Canada, Greece, Estonia, Poland, Moldavia). Main solo exhibitions: Distant Landscapes (Nordic Artists’ Centre, Dale, Norway, 2007), Reductions of Painting (Kaunas, 2010), Light Paintings (Berlin, 2010), Spontaneous States (Vilnius, 2011), Świecenie (Cracow, 2016).

Algimantas Černiauskas – in 2006–2012 studied painting at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, graduated in 2012 with the master degree. Since 2010 participate in exhibitions. Arranged  duet exhibitions with Henrikas Čerapas: The Young Guitarman‘s Love Garden (2011), Contraception (2010). Main solo exhibitions: Life in a Bush, Painting from Merkinė (2016), Painting (The Primitive Breakfast); The Heart of Hedonist and Gold or Little Merriments in the Hell (Vilnius 2013) and others.

Kristina Mažeikaitė – in 2009–2015 studied painting at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, graduated in 2015 with the master degree. In 2014 Ary Stillman memorial scholarship. 2016 Individual state grant for the creator of culture and art. Since 2010 participates in exhibitions: No More Excuses (with Simona Merijauskaitė, 2014), Myth and Art (2014), Ad Originem (2013, 2015).

Simona Merijauskaitė in 2008-2015 studied painting at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, graduated in 2015 with the master degree. In 2011, during exchange program “Erasmus” she studied in Utrecht School of Arts, the Netherlands.  Main exhibitions:  solo show My Cosmos (2016), No more excuses (with Kristina Mažeikaitė, 2014), „Q 14“ (2014), Ad Originem (2015).

Gytis Aštrauskas in 2006 – 2012 studied painting at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, graduated in 2012 with the master degree. Since 2012 participates in exhibitions: (How did I get here?) Painting in Lithuania (Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius, 2012), Ad Originem (2015).

Artūras Mitinas – master student at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, Department of Painting. Participates in exhibitions: Close by surroundings (2015, with Aušra Žvinyte), ad Originem (2015).

The project is in support of Lithuanian Council for Culture