Last autumn, the Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius announced an open call to participate in a group exhibition. The open call presented an opportunity to reflect upon the needs of the art field along with its community, and to explore new ways of working together. “We would like to make an experiment – to invite anyone and everyone to propose ideas, projects, events and processes,” the curators wrote in the invitation; anything that “seems important, interesting to share or to experience with others.”
More than 200 people from various countries responded to the invitation, among them not just professional artists; a small infinity which for the last couple of months have been testing the limits of the CAC. We are very grateful for such an overwhelming response; collectively, the proposals contributed a diverse range of ideas, projects and points of view and each was considered, discussed and thus in some way accepted. Some of the proposals will be implemented and presented in the future or otherwise woven into the fabric of the CAC’s future activities. Meanwhile, several dozen artists, curators and collectives will feature in the exhibition ‘Head With Many Thoughts’.
The exhibition is a polyvocal reflection on time, endings, beginnings, transition and change. It offers no single vision for the future – neither hopeful nor threatening – nor one direction of movement: the present time is marked by a range of simultaneous trajectories and multiple choices. Knowing what exactly our actions will change is not always possible; nevertheless, it is important and no less interesting to look out for what is unfolding in front of us, and to act. If the exhibition does not lie, it’s the gentle attentiveness, togetherness and care that help us face the uncertainty; and one becomes the necessary “glue” by becoming support, springboard and adventure for oneself and for others.
The original invitation posed the question “Are We Closing?” as its headline, and the exhibition was intended as one of the last projects presented at the CAC prior to a major renovation. The prospect of a hiatus became a pretext for self-reflection and an opening up of the institution, and the exhibition also carries a sense of leaping into the unknown. However, due to an unexpected change in the building’s renovation plan, repairs have been postponed and the CAC will continue to operate in its usual spaces for at least another year. But while the anticipated changes have been delayed, thoughts are picking up speed.
Curators: Neringa Bumblienė, Julija Fomina, Virginija Januškevičiūtė, Ūla Tornau and Asta Vaičiulytė
Participants: Aidas Bareikis, Khairani Barokka, Tiago Borges, Polly Brown, Marco Bruzzone, Vitalij Červiakov, Ian Damerell, Viktorija Damerell and Ona Juciūtė, Povilas Dirgėla, Sholto Dobie and Dovilė Šimonytė, Daniel Eatock, Greta Eimulytė, Annabel Elgar, Marta Frėjutė, Vytautas Gečas, Arūnas Gudaitis, Lizzie Homersham (Book Works), Ellie Hunter and Anastasia Sosunova, Milda Januševičiūtė and Ignė Narbutaitė, Karolina Jašinskaitė, Patricija Jurkšaitytė, Anastasia Kolas, Laima Kreivytė, Liucija Kvašytė, Dainius Liškevičius, Listening Eyes (Sheryl Cheung, Duto Hardono, Chi-Wei Lin, curated by Esther Lu), Marcos Lutyens, Marianna Maruyama, Matter in Flux, Gizela Mickiewicz, Andrej Polukord, Mark Prendergast, Eglė Ridikaitė, Maria Saivosalmi and Vytautas Puidokas, Self Luminous Society, Matthew Shannon, Vitalij Strigunkov, Andrius Svilys, Ieva Tarejeva, T.E.C. (Alex Kelvy, Zoé Renié Harris, Aapo Nikkanen), Trafik, Andrej Vasilenko, Mindaugas Vegys, Simona Žemaitytė, Tomas Židonis
Architect: Povilas Marozas (Studio SpaceTime)
Design: Vytautas Volbekas
Resident writers: Valentinas Klimašauskas and Post Brothers
Photography: Andrej Vasilenko
Aidas Bareikis. Monochrome Portraits. Total Sale 2020
Aidas Bareikis. Monochrome Portraits. Total Sale 2020
Aidas Bareikis. Monochrome Portraits. Total Sale 2020
Anastasia Kolas. J’adoube, 2016. Video, 18’48”
Andrej Polukord, Happy End, 2019–2020. Video installation and performance (documentation of a road trip: VW Passat 1998 car, eggs, sausage, bread, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)
Andrej Polukord, Happy End, 2019–2020. Video installation and performance (documentation of a road trip: VW Passat 1998 car, eggs, sausage, bread, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)
Andrej Polukord, Happy End, 2019–2020. Video installation and performance (documentation of a road trip: VW Passat 1998 car, eggs, sausage, bread, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)
Andrej Vasilenko, Exhibitions, 2020. Photographic series
Andrej Vasilenko, Exhibitions, 2020. Photographic series
Simona Žemaitytė, Feedback, 2019. Video, sound, 74’
Andrej Vasilenko, Exhibitions, 2020. Photographic series
Andrej Vasilenko, Exhibitions, 2020. Photographic series
Arūnas Gudaitis, Inesa and Ilona, 2020. Sculpture, plaster
Arūnas Gudaitis, Inesa and Ilona, 2020. Sculpture, plaster
Arūnas Gudaitis, Inesa and Ilona, 2020. Sculpture, plaster
Arūnas Gudaitis, Inesa and Ilona, 2020. Sculpture, plaster
Povilas Dirgėla, Sea 49, 2015. Oil on canvas
Marianna Maruyama, Permissions, a.k.a. Loving with Both Hands, 2019– (ongoing). Performance and video installation (video projection, LED signboard, local phone hotline, vinyl player, light boxes, stereo audio, 34’)
Marianna Maruyama, Permissions, a.k.a. Loving with Both Hands, 2019– (ongoing). Performance and video installation (video projection, LED signboard, local phone hotline, vinyl player, light boxes, stereo audio, 34’)
Annabel Elgar, Noon in the Desert, 2017. Photographic series (C-type photographic prints)
Annabel Elgar, Noon in the Desert, 2017. Photographic series (C-type photographic prints)
Greta Eimulytė, Notre Dame, 2019. Video installation, sound, 5’46”
Chiwei Lin, Talking Knots, 2019. Multimedia installation and performance
Chiwei Lin, Talking Knots, 2019. Multimedia installation and performance
Dovilė Šimonytė, Pathos, 2020. Drawings on paper
Dovilė Šimonytė, Pathos, 2020. Drawings on paper
Self Luminous Society, HQ booth, 2020. Installation
Self Luminous Society, HQ booth, 2020. Installation
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Vitalij Strigunkov, Caring, 2019. HD video, colour, sound, 4’45”
Matthew Shannon, Untitled series, 2015–2020
Matthew Shannon, Untitled series, 2015–2020
Marta Frėjūtė, (…) It all looked like things and wonders described in the story of Amadi (…), 2020. Installation (wood, organic glass, print on paper)
Marta Frėjūtė, (…) It all looked like things and wonders described in the story of Amadi (…), 2020. Installation (wood, organic glass, print on paper)
Marta Frėjūtė, (…) It all looked like things and wonders described in the story of Amadi (…), 2020. Installation (wood, organic glass, print on paper)
Viktorija Damerell, Ona Jūciūtė. Kittens, 2019. Installation
Viktorija Damerell, Ona Jūciūtė. Kittens, 2019. Installation
Self Luminous Society, HQ booth, 2020. Installation
Self Luminous Society, HQ booth, 2020. Installation
Self Luminous Society, HQ booth, 2020. Installation
Self Luminous Society, HQ booth, 2020. Installation
Marcos Lutyens, Walls Have Ears, 2020. Installation (architectural construction, sound, light) Collaboration with Povilas Marozas (Studio Space/ Time)
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Eglė Ridikaitė, We Are Guests Series of paintings, 2019–2020. Aerosol on canvas
Eglė Ridikaitė, We Are Guests Series of paintings, 2019–2020. Aerosol on canvas
T.E.C. (Tissue Evolution Club), Jung Thug, 2019–2020. Installation, series of customised upcycled garments
T.E.C. (Tissue Evolution Club), Jung Thug, 2019–2020. Installation, series of customised upcycled garments
T.E.C. (Tissue Evolution Club), Jung Thug, 2019–2020. Installation, series of customised upcycled garments
T.E.C. (Tissue Evolution Club), Jung Thug, 2019–2020. Installation, series of customised upcycled garments
T.E.C. (Tissue Evolution Club), Jung Thug, 2019–2020. Installation, series of customised upcycled garments
T.E.C. (Tissue Evolution Club), Jung Thug, 2019–2020. Installation, series of customised upcycled garments
Tiago Borges, Amnesia, 2020 Installation (wood panels, digital image projections, fan, sound, UV light)
Tiago Borges, Amnesia, 2020 Installation (wood panels, digital image projections, fan, sound, UV light)
Tiago Borges, Amnesia, 2020 Installation (wood panels, digital image projections, fan, sound, UV light)
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Marcos Lutyens, Walls Have Ears, 2020. Installation (architectural construction, sound, light) Collaboration with Povilas Marozas (Studio Space/ Time)
Sholto Dobie and Dovilė Šimonytė, Within Must Not Be Underestimated, 2020. A collaborative installation and one-off performance by Dovilė Šimonytė and Sholto Dobie featuring Lia Mazzari and Anastasia Freygang
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Patricija Jurkšaitytė, Four Still Lifes, 2018–2020. Series of four paintings (oil on canvas)
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Marcos Lutyens, Walls Have Ears, 2020. Installation (architectural construction, sound, light) Collaboration with Povilas Marozas (Studio Space/ Time)
Marcos Lutyens, Walls Have Ears, 2020. Installation (architectural construction, sound, light) Collaboration with Povilas Marozas (Studio Space/ Time)
Matter in Flux, 2020. Bi-weekly series of writings, digital print
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Ieva Tarejeva, /ʃ t ɑː b i k ʌ s/ – a safe place to feel present,2018–2020.Installation (mixed media)
Vytautas Gečas, Private Collection, 2014– (ongoing). Mixed media
Tomas Židonis, The Urn of Civil Disobedience. Ballot Shredding Machine, 2017. Mixed media
Tomas Židonis, The Urn of Civil Disobedience. Ballot Shredding Machine, 2017. Mixed media
Ellie Hunter, Anastasia Sosunova. Shadow Tongues, 2020. Two-channel HD video, sound. With production support from the CAC Vilnius
Ellie Hunter, Anastasia Sosunova. Shadow Tongues, 2020. Two-channel HD video, sound. With production support from the CAC Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Polly Brown, Airportals, 2019. Photographic series (C-type photographic prints)
Marcos Lutyens, Alphabet Huts (Zzz), 2020. Installation (architectural construction, colour, sound, light, oxygen leak)
Marcos Lutyens, Alphabet Huts (Zzz), 2020. Installation (architectural construction, colour, sound, light, oxygen leak)
Gizela Mickiewicz, The Loneliness of Sightlines, 2019. Mixed media
Gizela Mickiewicz, The Loneliness of Sightlines, 2019. Mixed media
Gizela Mickiewicz, The Loneliness of Sightlines, 2019. Mixed media
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
‘Head With Many Thoughts’, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius
Maria Saivosalmi and Vytautas Puidokas, From Mother to Daughter, 2020. Video, 27’
Maria Saivosalmi and Vytautas Puidokas, From Mother to Daughter, 2020. Video, 27’
Mindaugas Vegys, The Wall (according to Herbert Read’s A Concise History of Modern Painting), 2019–2020. Acrylic paint on canvas
Mindaugas Vegys, The Wall (according to Herbert Read’s A Concise History of Modern Painting), 2019–2020. Acrylic paint on canvas
Mark Prendergast, Eye Fall, 2019. Video installation
Mark Prendergast, Eye Fall, 2019. Video installation
Liucija Kvašytė, Dress for Marie Antoinette, 2020. Fabric (fake Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana), metal construction
