Art Cells 2018: HOPE
The topic of the Vilnius Academy of Arts annual exhibition “Art Cells” has been dictated by the dialogue with the previously held exhibitions: in 2017, this was “Love. Best Of” (curator Vidas Poškus) and in 2016, “Faith” (curator Jurijus Dobriakovas). Whether or not this is a coincidence, but this year, the exhibition has employed…hope.
Even though hope, like faith, is primarily associated with Christian values, this word has a specific subtext – not just in religion, but also in mythology, medicine and psychology (e.g., in C.R. Snyder’s positive psychology) or social sciences (e.g., Robert Mattox’s hopescape theory).
The starting point for the exhibition concept is the idea of liberal hope by Richard Rorty, the spokesman of American pragmatic philosophy (Philosophy and Social Hope, 1999), as well as some of his other doctrines. For the philosopher, hope means the perception of oneself as a creator – not a finder – of a better world. Therefore, self-knowledge is equivalent to self-creation that is practiced by using various descriptions, symbolic systems, ways of thinking, insights, etc. Moreover, according to the philosopher, a person is a totally accidental creation of circumstances that are products of both time and location. Similarly, “Hope”, as the exhibition of 2018 bachelor’s and master’s artworks, presents a collection of the most varied “contingencies” that have arisen due to different circumstances, which is given a sense in a specific place and time. In addition, Richard Rorty denies the idea of integrity and puts forward one of constant change and continuous “self-creation project”, which gives hope not only to the institution, but also to its graduates.
In response to the fear characteristic of the original creator – which, according to Rorty, is “the fear of finding out that one is just a copy or a replica” – the works in “Titanikas” exposition space have been separated from each other by means of architectural design, while also making sense of the idea of the cell.
The exhibition will open on June 15 and will be available to visitors for as long as until July 29. The exhibition will take place in “Titanikas” exhibition space, but also in other buildings and territories of the Vilnius Academy of Arts.
The exhibition curator: Aušra Trakšelytė | ausra.trakselyte@vda.lt
Curator’s assistants: Monika Valatkaitė, Indrė Kuzminskytė
Exposition architect: Vladas Suncovas
Graphic design: Gailė Pranckūnaitė, Marek Voida
THE PROGRAM:
Ceramics Creative Centre
VAA Outdoor Expo Pavilion
Maironio St. 4
“A Teleport to Nida. Rite Terrabyte“
Rituals. Waters. Forests. Sands. Winds. Dunes. Global warming. Glass. Ice. Steam. Algae. Seeohtwo. Albedo.
The installation invites passers-by to approach the glass space, take a closer look at it and relocate to Nida. Pressing one‘s nose against the glass, to feel its coolness, as if it were a whiff of the sea. And, in doing so, to imagine the ecosystem of the Curonian Spit, its pleasures and threats.
The objects that have been arranged inside carry our thoughts away to the forms of the seaside landscape, while their materials make us think about the future of the Curonian Spit in the further warming of the climate. Venice, Maldives or Antarctica?
Artists: Žilvinas Landzbergas, Tessa Zettel & Sumugan Sivanesan (Germany, Australia).
Curator: Vytautas Michelkevičius.
Organizer: Nida Art Colony of the VAA.
The teleport exhibition will be open until July 12.
13.00-22.30 val.
From 1 p.m. to 1.45 p.m. next to Fluxus bridge: “Sifting-Out“ performance by Alessandra Cali and Aleksandra Vilimaitė.
From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cathedral Square: “Fictional Protest“ performance by Aistė Kalvelytė.
From 5 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. at Maironio St. 6. (next to the Older building of the VAA): “A Prayer To The Arts“ performance by Laurynas Vaitkus.
From 5.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Maironio St. 4–6 (in the inner yard of Crematory/Art Stoves): “A Hold On“ performance by Aistė Marija Stankevičiūtė.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Maironio Str. 6 (The Older building of the VAA (“Gothic hall“)): Video documentation of VAA students‘ performances (2014–2018).
Supervisor: assistant professor Česlovas Lukenskas.
From 6.20 p.m. to 6.50 p.m. at Maironio St. 6 (next to the entrance to the Older building of the VAA): “We All Dance By Ourselves“ happening by Mantė Baranauskaitė.
From 7.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. at Maironio St. 6 (on the first floor and second floor of the Older building of the VAA): “A Scenic Walk” performance by Deinora Rudėnaitė (starts in the corridor of the first floor, beside the Languages centre).
From 10 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. at Maironio St. 6 (in the inner yard of the Older building of the VAA): “Chesiux Tunes“ group show by Česlovas Lukenskas. Body moving by Alessandra Cali.
Programmer: assistant professor Česlovas Lukenskas.
The Newer building of the VAA (the first floor balcony)
Malūnų st. 5
From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Exposition of bachelor program works by graduates from the Department of Architecture of the Vilnius Academy of Arts.
Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Centre
Malūnų St. 8
From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
“Mold In The Context” by Vasarė Krugždaitė
The artwork represents the beginning of the creative process, the first glance, and the first admiration that allow one to create new environmental experiences and expect finding new forms.
Galerija „Kairė – dešinė“ (second floor)
Latako st. 3
From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Greta Alice Liekytė, “Our Own Bodies“
Derealization and depersonalization disorders in the human mind turn the whole world upside down – a dream turns into reality, one’s own body becomes alien. And sometimes, those bodies are more than one. They all speak at the same time. You must listen to them, because they are an integral part of your life, which helps us stop at least for a short while and realize: is it a dream? With the help of mixed illustrative techniques, the work creates an atmospheric exposition between dream and reality.
“Titanikas“ exhibition halls (first floor)
Maironio st. 3
From 6 p.m. to midnight, with the opening at 6 p.m.
Art Cells’18: “HOPE“
“Art Cells” is a traditional annual VAA project that crowns the end of the study year. The exhibition presents the works by graduate students of bachelor and master studies of 2018. This year, the topic of the exhibition is hope.
The starting point for the exhibition concept is the idea of liberal hope by Richard Rorty, the spokesman of American pragmatic philosophy. For the philosopher, hope means the perception of oneself as a creator – not a finder – of a better world. Therefore, self-knowledge is equivalent to self-creation that is practiced by using various descriptions, symbolic systems, ways of thinking, insights, etc.
“Titanikas“ exhibition halls (ground floor)
Maironio st. 3
From 6 p.m. to midnight, with the opening at 6 p.m.
DIC | Young Designer Prize
VAA Design Innovation Center has organized the "Young Designer Prize" competition each year, starting from 2011. The purpose of the competition is to distinguish and reward the most prominent young designers, thus promoting their competition and development, as well as to present their work to the representatives of business, industry and society, and give catalyst to the winners‘ professional career.
The 2018 project aims to introduce the field of design theory and design research – too little known in comparison to the traditional areas of communication, fashion or product design.s.
“Akademija“ gallery
Pilies st. 4
From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
“The Meeting“
Ten third-year students of the Photography and Media Arts Department open the door to their first joint exhibition. The works they present at the exhibition question the social and political structures, established constructs, and searches for new perspectives.
The exhibition opening is meant for meeting, action, and familiarization.
Exhibition participants: Brigita Kasperaitė, Brigita Kazlauskaitė, Gintarė Vaicekauskaitė, Justina Liubinaitė, Kamila Žygis, Laurynas Mataitis, Monika Rukaitė, Rūta Balžekaitė, Saulė Miežytė, Virginija Bareikytė.
The exhibition will be open until June 29.
“Artifex“ gallery
Gaono st. 1
From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The exhibition of works by VAA Textile Arts and Design bachelor program graduates.
VAA Doctoral Studies Department (C1 building, room 102)
Malūnų St. 3
From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Asta Kavaliauskaitė. "Home" installation/cinema set dressing
The installation-cinema set dressing about memories and memory has been created on the basis of personal family stories. The work consists of photos, text and space installation.
The Newer building of the VAA (“Chess hall”, ground floor)
Malūnų St. 5
From 7 p.m. to midnight
"Flight No 13 "| VAA Costume Design Department
The traditional exhibition presents the diploma works by the bachelor and master programme graduates of the Department of Costume Design and other departments of the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Each year, the event features over twenty unique, stylish, and inventive collections of clothing and accessories.
This year, the patron and event sponsor is “L'Officiel / Fashion“, the solid international fashion magazine.
The initiator and executor of the event is professor Jolanta Talaikytė.
The exhibition will be open until 28 June.
“Židinys“, Anastazija and Antanas Tamošaičiai gallery
Domininkonai st. 15
From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The exhibition displays creative works by Lithuanian emigrant artist Vida Krištolaitytė (1939–2017). The artist‘s oeuvre was influenced by the avant-garde of Lithuanian emigration and expressionism, as well as by the abstract expressionism of the New York School. The pictures excitingly reveal the author‘s personal experiences.
The exhibition of works by artists‘ couple from the USA: painters Jūratė Mažeikaitė-Harrison and photographer Jeff Harrison.
The exhibition of works from weaving courses of 2017 and 2018. Weaving is an integral part of the gallery‘s activities. In the course of the night, the students who have learned this craft in the gallery will demonstrate the methods of weaving to visitors who wish to engage in this activity.
VAA "Titanikas“ (projection on the window from the outside)
Maironio g. 3
From 8 p.m. to midnight
Brigita Kasperaitė. "From An Artistic Viewpoint" (video installation, 2018)
What should a true artwork look like? It‘s an eternal question that has no answer to any artist. The Lukiškės square project contest, held in 2017, and its results aroused broad discussion on this topic – especially in local news portals.
Replicating a never-ending stream of thoughts – which, like commentary in the media, is often just an impulsive gesture – I have restored it in space by re-thinking art and artwork through public perception and the dictated need for art.
“Židinys“, Anastazija and Antanas Tamošaičiai gallery
Domininkonai st. 15
Start at 8 p.m
Concert "The Sounds of Music in Vilnius Museums".
The compositions by Lithuanian composers will fill the gallery space, performed by student ensembles of the strings instruments department of Algirdo music school (Vilnius).
“ArgenTum“ gallery of designer jewellery
Latako st. 2
From 8 p.m. to midnight
"ARgenTum", VAA gallery of designer jewellery, opens the “Balancing Playground“ personal exhibition of kinetic objects by Japanese artist Lissa Hashimoto. Its objects, balancing on needles and moving about their axis, create a feeling of lightness.
Also, in the gallery space, we will present the course graduation works by Adelė Šumkauskaitė, third-year student at the VAA Telšiai Faculty Department of Metal art and jewellery.
The exhibitions will be open until July 7th.
