Transformation, ephemeral form, archive of temporality, phenomenon of preservation, creation and restoration, cognition, the boundary between black and white, being and not being.
Nameless lakes recorded: 201
Nameless lakes extinct: 115
Shades of Nameless lakes recorded: 168
Names of Nameless lakes discovered: Raguoliukas, Nemenčinukas, Paliedis, Vičių, Bedugnis, Kairioji akis, Dubelis, Ežeras, Krakinis.
From my expedition to the Nameless lakes: At the time, I had a strange feeling that I was where I shouldn’t be. The map showed that I was moving around a large body of water, but instead of a lake, there was an empty clearing. I continued towards the Nameless 12131514. As I approached the forest, a barbed wire fence appeared in the middle of it. The thought that the territory could belong to someone was unsettling. The sun, which had shone in the morning, hid; the wind picked up; the pine trees creaked their trunks loudly. I entered the thicket. My skin shivered at the sight of the forest cover, which was dug up by boars, their tusk marks left everywhere. After a while, the forest path disappeared. I pushed deeper. Moisture began to seep from under the ground, the plants thickened, and the sky became black and angry. It seemed that nature was trying to spit me out like some foreign body. I decided not to bother anymore. As I escaped from the forest, lightning struck a few meters away. I took it as a sign and didn’t look for the Nameless anymore. (Emilija Čepulė, July 7th, 2024)
Lithuanian folk legend about the name of the lake: A lake that came from the sky began to roar so terribly, that its repulsive sound was heard in all the surrounding villages. One man learned in a dream that the lake would continue to roar until he guesses what name it should be given. Finally, the name was guessed by a beggar woman, sitting under a cross, who said, “Let it be Praviršulis (the one who has overcome, gained the upper hand, the conqueror)! The lake liked the name: it immediately stopped rumbling, and it never did again, because now everyone calls it by that name.” (Written by Lithuanian biologist, professor at the University of the Philippines Pranciškus Baltrus Šivickis, late 19th century)
M.K. Čiurlionis: Returning from the post office, I noticed what a wonderful thing fog is. It is behind me, in front of me; it is only what is with me and within me <…> And nothing more. A magnificent palace looms in the mist — barely visible — I approach it —and it is nothing special — and further on there are miracles in the fog — and again, nothing special — all around there is more and more fog<…> (Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Vytautas Landsbergis, Letters to Sofia, Vilnius: Baltos lankos, 2011, p. 114)
Emilija Čepulė (b. 2001) is a young artist, currently completing her Master’s at the Vilnius Academy of Arts Graphic Arts department. In 2024, she was awarded the Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis scholarship for the creation of a new work. “Nameless Lakes” is the artist’s second personal exhibition, which presents a project for the M. K. Čiurlionis competition. Both the works in the exhibition and her entire creative practice speak of the artist’s courage to explore the unknown. Many creators are born “too early,” but Emilija is likely a little too late. She dreams of life some 500 years ago, when great discoveries and impressive expeditions around the world were still ahead. However, sometimes the objects found right in front of your eyes, even a small Lithuanian lake on a computer screen without a name, history or measurements — a true nothingness — illuminate the consciousness… And remind us that even in the closest environment, there are still untrodden paths, undiscovered points, which, like seeds of the Taoist world, can continue to spread in the artist’s work.
Exhibition architect: pavel pavel
Exhibition soundtrack composer: Augustė Dūdaitė
The exhibition is part of the presentation of the works by the laureate of the Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis scholarship.
Exhibition will run until March 29 at Jonas Mekas Visual Art Center. Admission is free.
Photography: Anna Chostegian
Installation view ‘Nameless Lakes’
Installation view ‘Nameless Lakes’
‘Lake maps’, 2024. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, Chinese paper, inkjet printing, water
Nameless Lakes’, 2024. Lithography, Chinese paper, inkjet print, water
Nameless Lakes’, 2024. Lithography, Chinese paper, inkjet print, water
Installation view ‘Nameless Lakes’
‘Two Shores’, 2025. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, inkjet ink
‘Two Shores’, 2025. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, inkjet ink
‘Two Shores’, 2025. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, inkjet ink
‘Two Shores’, 2025. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, inkjet ink
‘Two Shores’, 2025. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, inkjet ink
‘Deeper. Graphic Notation’, 2024. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, Chinese paper, inkjet printing
‘Deeper. Graphic Notation’, 2024. Japanese restoration paper 7.3 gsm, Chinese paper, inkjet printing
Installation view ‘Nameless Lakes’
Installation view ‘Nameless Lakes’
‘Shades of Nameless Lakes’, 2024. Digital print, Fabriano paper, transparent paper, coptic binding
‘Nameless Lakes Catalogue’, 2025. Risograph, Munken Print Cream 100 gsm paper, resin, restoration 9 gsm paper, perforation
‘Nameless Lakes Catalogue’, 2025. Risograph, Munken Print Cream 100 gsm paper, resin, restoration 9 gsm paper, perforation
‘Nameless Lakes Catalogue’, 2025. Risograph, Munken Print Cream 100 gsm paper, resin, restoration 9 gsm paper, perforation
‘Nameless Lakes Catalogue’, 2025. Risograph, Munken Print Cream 100 gsm paper, resin, restoration 9 gsm paper, perforation
