On September 2, 2014, in the Lithuanian artists association gallery “Arka“ in Vilnius the joint exhibition of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia “KELIAS / CEĻŠ / KETT”, dedicated to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Baltic Way is being opened at the Artists’ Union of Latvia (11. Novembra krastmala 35, Riga). The exhibition is an important event both with respect to artistic and civil sense, reminding the exciting moments of unity of the Baltic countries and the breathing of independence.
The initiator and curator of the exhibition Dovilė Tomkutė-Veleckienė was seeking to highlight the evidence of the unity of the countries in The Baltic Way. Unity is as important today as it was earlier, trying to reveal the positions of the artists in the unified project, reflecting complicated changes of the period, different economic, political and cultural situations of the Baltic countries. In the exhibition the ideas of freedom, independence, national identity, self-dependence of state system were employed and were expressed by the metaphor of “way” meaning moving forward as well as in the general path of human life. It is necessary to mention that the concept of road in the mythology and understanding of it in different religions is multipartite reflecting not only the interval between two points in space, but is being expressed by the symbols of heaven, mountain, the top of the tree of the world. The aim of the travel is the end of the road, reflecting the most important values. The aim of The Baltic Way is the end at the same time – that is the beginning of the independence. It is implemented by every state and is being carried out differently even today. How is the multidimensional process of seeking for freedom being analyzed, understood or maybe reflected by the different artists, from different countries representing different spheres of art?
Professional artists from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were invited to participate in the exhibition as if duplicate the idea of Vilnius triennial. The curators of Latvian and Estonian Artists’ Associations independently formed their collections, where the twelve authors represent each country. The biggest part of the exhibition is being represented by thirty six Lithuanian authors. It appeared by the open candidacy, even intentionally producing works of art for this occasion. In October the exhibition will travel to Riga, to gallery of Artists’ Union of Latvia, later on – to Pärnu Museum and to Estonian National Library in Tallinn.
The collection of Estonian Artists’ Association (curator Inga Heamägi) is the leader of this exposition due to the choice of strong artists of different generations. The exceptional polarized ideas and plastic positions, embracing modern life of global society are characteristic to this exposition. Ratio of human and environment, the existence of society and individual being is reflected in the variety of the ways of expression. Among traditional painting, graphic art and sculpture forms appear installations and pieces of video art. They create undetermined, extreme shapes of the way, motion and fight. New instruments of abstraction are being chosen by Jaan Elken, one of the most famous representatives of modern Estonian painting. He distinguishes by reflecting modern reality evidence – monochromatic tones in painting, expressed by the signs, propagating the energy of street graffiti or print art. Using nervously aggressive monochromatic strokes he creates the so-called style of “graffiti abstractionism”. Massive forms of Johnson & Johnson astonish. Expressionistic impromptu in Vano Allsalu paintings open with vital energy, Siim Tanel Annus fragmentary prints reveal static photographic forms of metal carvings. Vivid search for identity marks video art works by Tanja Muravskaja.
Latvian Artists’ Association collection (curators Igors Dobičins, Inese Baranovska) introduces authors of different generations with various artistic ides of modern expression as well as different experiences. Painting is predominant – the works differ in plastic variety, modern topicality. Latvian artists highlight the most important freedom of choice – to be the artists. This means the possibility to cherish the freedom of religion, freedom to break stereotypes, freedom to be your own self. So the main essence of modern art is truth. The notion of The Baltic Way is reflected photographically and decoratively visually (Patricia Brekte, Richards Delvers) and indirectly (Ansis Butnors), in the shapes of picturesque metaphors (Sigita Daugulė), the aspects of hyperrealism and pop-art (Neonilla Medvedeva, Richards Delvers, Laura Ozola). Especially distinguishing are the works of Juris Utans, widely applying artistic expression as important means of public dialogue. In the past having created the allegoric portraits of the well-known political figures, the artist in this display persuasively emphasized the bond between personal and global ideas. Karlis Silins reveals the slowed down merging of the language of painting and visuality of the way itself. Igors Dobičins’ metal plastic sculptures are the persuasive expression of his emotions and materialized ideas.
In the collection of Lithuanian artists association (compiled by Dovilė Tomkutė-Veleckienė) painting is predominant. However representatives of jewelry and ceramics are included – they supplement the conceptual decorative art trend. Expression line is still vivid as well as pieces of art, maintaining real motives and abstractions. With respect to content Lithuanian collection is more subtle, without declarations, challenges and contrasts. Nuances accentuate philosophical aspects of relationship of human and the way. That is why practically every author deserves a separate definition.
Visually persuasive is the idea of human path of torture embodied by Aleksandras Vozbinas in his convincing artistic manner. Dainius Trumpis paintings are full of multidimensional energy. Colors and plastic shapes of Vilmantas Marcinkevičius “facehumanoids” are very convincing. Algimantas Biguzas is in the constant search of symbolic meaning – his artistic manner makes you believe in him. Gintaras Palemonas Janonis painting is full of mood of Michelangelo Antonioni. Compositions of Jolanta Kyzikaitė are marked by decorative and plastic multiangular being, infiltrating the importance of topicality of modern environment. Ričardas Bartkevičius composes the road trajectories plastically compiling the way into ladder and afterwards into railway transformations. Mindaugas Breiva convincingly and cinematographically touches the aspects of time and space. Expressive works of Monika Furmanavičiūtė smell of the primeval pulse of just being. Deep notion of abstraction in Dalia Kasčiūnaitė works reveals multidimensional depths of the language of painting. Abstract and multiangular language of painting – the idea of road -persuasively reveals Arūnė Tornau, Simonas Skrabulis. Lyric tones are vivid in abstractions of Ričardas Garbačiauskas, Lionė Grigaliūnaitė, Irena Breivienė. The balance of the material part of being is convincingly reflected in the stylish compositions of Loreta Zdanavičienė. Compositions of Jūratė Mitalienė combine the manner of painting and graphic art. Hyperrealistic and aesthetic forms open in the imaginary stories of Miglė Kosinskaitė creations, Andrius Miežis works are abundant with plastic variety. In the prints of Dovilė Tomkutė nostalgia to the idea of the way itself is being reflected, Daliutė Ivanauskaitė does not cease to astonish with fantasy and freshness of the graphic language.
The first exhibition “KELIAS / CEĻŠ / KETT” has significantly commemorated the historical date and became an important reflection of the artistic life of all three Baltic countries. Independence in the sphere of art means the search for individual ideas, revealing important processes of changes. However, the most important event is that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania newly found each other in the space of the Baltic. It is probable that such exhibition, initiated by the artists’ associations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will take place in future, they will help to reveal and compare who we are in the sphere of art. The Baltic Way is unstoppable process. It generates renewal, the ideas of artistic community and creativity.
Art critic Nijolė Nevčesauskienė
