Meno parkas at Art16

Gallery “Meno parkas” at Art16 London is presenting collection of artworks by well-known Lithuanian authors who are operating with actualities of European culture. Artists – Aleksas Andriuškevičius (drawing), Jonas Gasiūnas (painting), Patricija Gilytė (video), Laisvydė Šalčiūtė (installation), Remigijus Treigys (photography) – are raising question whether foundation of Western culture is shaking. Canvases of Jonas Gasiūnas (oil, acrylic, drawing in the flame and smoke of a burning candle) are telling possibly nonexistent stories. It is just a smoke. But the personages are telling about the collapsing of human illusions. Failing of hopes. The City – one of the central art piece of collection – portrays majestic monument of civilization. But also refers to intuitive future flair - the lack of assurance, security. The installation Imperfect Innocence is considering live reflects artist‘s thoughts on gender stereotypes and the stereotyped concept of traditional family. It points to the ambiguity of the feelings like innocence and guilt, occasionally imposed on us by hetero-normative culture with its puritan values and attitudes, quite frequently resulting in homophobia and the desire to judge and label those with feelings and views beyond the vision of “the righteous life” advocated as the only possible and therefore mandatory to all. Patricija Gilytė in her video performance raises a question on how we assimilate surroundings and how it accepts us? Artists herself is experiencing fate of immigrant and in her works using visual language she is interpreting state of being different, integrating, adaptation into another society and environment and meanwhile staying yourself. Architecture and its elements in nebulous photographic landscapes of Remigijus Treigys is speaking in the values of time - “...the notion of time is abstract: it could have been, it is, it will be…” (R. Treigys). Collection, proposed to the this fair, represents fragmented analysis of contemporary culture, which is united by the notion of awareness: retreating from daily routine and aspiring for the blink of truth. Three of this year presented artists (Jonas Gasiūnas, Patricija Gilytė, Laisvydė Šalčiūtė) were already shown and achieved success in previous London Art fairs. The new acquaintances will be - Aleksas Andriuškevičius (drawings) and Remigijus Treigys (photography). As each year gallery is seeking for variety of mediums with this emphasizing that tool is not determining high quality.