The exhibition ‘Boiling Souls’ by Emilija Žukauskaitė at TSEKH Art Gallery ran until September 26. The exhibition is curated by Karolis Gužas, who is also the author of the following text:
The exhibition ‘Boiling Souls’ explores the strong and often chaotic emotions that come from within us. Through a vivid and expressive series of paintings, this collection reveals the deep currents of feelings that shape our inner lives. With several works created in the vibrant atmosphere of the island of Bali, the painter encourages us to confront our own soul and embrace the chaotic beauty of emotions.
The chaotic beauty of feelings can be likened to a stormy ocean, where waves of emotions rise and fall unpredictably, creating stormy and enchanting shapes, which are the basis for Emilija Žukauskaitė’s work. In this chaos lies a profound beauty – pure, unfiltered and deeply human. The most intense emotions can be overwhelming, but they also add colour and depth to life, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences.
A series of paintings in which bright colours collide and merge, and each brushstroke reflects a different emotion – joy, love and even admiration. Beauty is not the result of perfect harmony, but of the vivid interplay of contrasts, of how each emotion influences and shapes the other. It is in the unpredictable ebb and flow and their intensity that the true essence of the artist’s feelings is captured.
Emotions, like the natural world, are wild and uncontrollable, but in their chaos there is a regularity, a rhythm that speaks to the essence of our existence. They remind us that to feel deeply is to live fully, embracing the messiness and grandeur of human experience.
The concept of simplicity and visual intensity in Emilia’s paintings refers to an artistic approach that uses minimalist elements, basic shapes, a limited colour palette or an uncluttered composition. All this creates a powerful and emotionally intense visual experience for the viewer. The artist uses a few well-placed lines, shapes and colours to convey the essence of her subject matter.
The bold use of colour, even in a simple composition, the colours chosen are intense and saturated, creating strong contrasts that attract the viewer’s eye and evoke strong emotional reactions. Composition and the arrangement of the elements also play a very important role in this series of works. Together with the suggestive colouring, the components in the paintings have a high visual weight, making the composition not only balanced but also impactful.
Her paintings create a dynamic tension between the simplicity of form and the intensity of the visual impact, so that the viewer experiences this on both an internal and intellectual level. The artist helps the viewer to achieve a balance where less is more and where each element, no matter how simple, contributes to the overall emotional and visual power of the work. Paintings that shape our inner life, evoke deep emotions, provoke thought and reflect aspects of the human experience, love, passion, joy or contemplation.
Such paintings act as a mirror of the soul, shaping and reflecting the viewer’s inner journey. The colours, shapes and flow of the painting are deliberately ambiguous, allowing each person to see something unique and personal in it.
Emilia Žukauskaitė’s first solo exhibition ‘Boiling Souls’ reflects a personal journey. Painting came into her life in 2014 as a silent rebellion against the inappropriate environment a young girl at that time had naively accepted. Unable to put into words the feelings boiling inside her, she discovered that the canvas could not only give her a voice, but also become a personal refuge for peace of mind.
Photography: Karolis Milaševičius