Cabinet of Nature Gourmand

Aušra Vaitkūnienė

Guest gallery: Meno Parkas, Kaunas, Lithuania

31th March – 22th April 2017

What is a forest? It might seem as a strange question. Everyone knows what a forest is. Probably you would say, that it’s an area where a lot of trees grow. But if there are a lot of trees growing at the area, but they are far away from each other – it is not a forest. If there is a lot of trees, but they take up very little space, then again it is not a forest, but a grove.

What is an exhibition? Viewers already have a habit, that gallery’s walls are covered with works of art. If there are loads of works but they do not create hypnotism then it is not an exhibition yet. If there are a lot of artworks but they only imitate the world without creating a connection between it and the viewer then it is also not an exhibition yet.

This is not an exhibition, but a cabinet of artworks, things etc., which fits my observations, thoughts and feelings about nature and world. Cabinet, which became open for the viewers, after being moved from my studio and home, for it to be able to communicate, talk and joke around. And if by this way new insight, ideas or thoughts appear, then this cabinet can become an exhibition.

It should be sought for paradoxical parallels by content of provided texts and images at the space of gallery. You can find a lot of known quotations from arts’ history, but these are presented a little bit in the way, which can make you smile. The time-space of cabinet’s is not being oriented to one meaning, but it is not chaotic as well. From scientific poetic synthesis to informative magical naïve realism, from feelings’ analysis to utopic visions – it is an attempt to make the viewer think and make decisions, that would be perceived intellectually as optional and would find their own insights and visions.

Aušra Vaitkūnienė, (b. 1962) lives and works in Kaunas (Lithuania). Painting MA degree at Vilnius Art Academy (1986). Member of Lithuanian Artist Association. Since 2004 docent, since 2016 head of Painting Department in Vilnius Art Academy Kaunas Art Faculty. Nominated with Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (New York, USA (2013) and numerous State and City Municipality grants. Artworks in collections of National M. K. Čiurlionis Museum, MMC (Modern Art Center, Vilnius), Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, National Vilnius Art Museum, Lippe Land Government (Detmold, Germany), private collections.