Robertas Narkus Lithuanian, b. 1983

Overview

Robertas Narkus (b. 1983, Lithuania) is an interdisciplinary artist, he graduated from the Vilnius Academy of Arts with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in photography and media art. The artist later continued his studies at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. Narkus is an initiator and a host of experimental arts management and food organization “Autarkia”, founder of Vilnius institute of Pataphysics, experimental engineering camp “eeKūlgrinda” and platform for artists and private business cooperation “Vizionierius”.

 

Robertas Narkus describes his art practice as contingency management in changing economic circumstances. By hyperbolizing and lightly ironizing the existing nebulous neoliberal world systems of power, entangled by other mechanisms as well, and often generously using the tools they offer, Narkus creates his own unique new order. Leveraging existing systems of societal functioning, he uses them as strategies aimed at creating an aesthetic, relational, or performative product. His creative work can be understood as independent art objects, different media projects, or as a social sculpture as a whole. Narkus is an exceptional artist working with different genres and forms, and such hybridity and systematicity make his work uniquely linked to the systems in which it operates - the art world, the art market, and society itself.

 

Robertas Narkus’s solo exhibitions have been held at the Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius, the David Dale Gallery in Glasgow, and the Tenderpixel art gallery in London. His works have also been presented in important group projects at the 12th Baltic Triennial, the 5th Marrakech Biennale, de Appel arts center in Amsterdam, and others. He represented Lithuania at the Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2022 with the project “Gut Feeling”.

Works
  • Robertas Narkus, Fool Moon-Lb-89{U7j, 2023
    Robertas Narkus
    Fool Moon-Lb-89{U7j, 2023
    196.5 x 216 x 4.5 cm
    77 1/2 x 85 x 2 in
    € 11,000.00–13,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Clown Pie, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Clown Pie, 2022
    115 x 129 x 6 cm
    € 9,000.00–10,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Antagonist One, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Antagonist One, 2022
    115 x 108 x 54 cm
    € 9,000.00–10,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Antagonist Two, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Antagonist Two, 2022
    124 x 70 x 110 cm
    € 9,000.00–10,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Injured Wind, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Injured Wind, 2022
    105 x 112 x 4.5 cm
    € 9,000.00–10,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, H264, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    H264, 2022
    102 x 181 x 100 cm
    € 9,000.00–10,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Feeedback, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Feeedback, 2022
    96 x 89 x 4.4 cm
    € 7,000.00–8,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Spreadsheet 2, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Spreadsheet 2, 2022
    70.8 x 56.8 x 3.7 cm
    € 7,000.00–8,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Godless, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Godless, 2022
    79.6 x 90.9 x 3.4 cm
    € 7,000.00–8,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Final Draft, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Final Draft, 2022
    105 x 95 x 5 cm
    € 7,000.00–8,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Converor, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Converor, 2022
    57.4 x 50.4 x 3.7 cm
    € 4,000.00–5,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Yesslow, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Yesslow, 2022
    59.1 x 47 x 3 cm
    € 4,000.00–5,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Bombisimo, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Bombisimo, 2022
    81.4 x 63.8 x 6.3 cm
    € 4,000.00–5,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, /*W6P{ - Chiusure , 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    /*W6P{ - Chiusure , 2021
    150 x 100 cm
    € 3,600.00
    Robertas Narkus, /*W6P{ - Chiusure , 2021
    € 3,600.00
  • Robertas Narkus, rz[YLzdEr - Chiusure , 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    rz[YLzdEr - Chiusure , 2021
    150 x 100 cm
    59 x 39 1/2 in
    € 3,600.00
    Robertas Narkus, rz[YLzdEr - Chiusure , 2021
    € 3,600.00
  • Robertas Narkus, oundI0Ve Chiusure, 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    oundI0Ve Chiusure, 2021
    100 x 150 cm
    € 3,500.00
    Robertas Narkus, oundI0Ve Chiusure, 2021
    € 3,500.00
  • Robertas Narkus, How to Feel Real, 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    How to Feel Real, 2021
    80 x 60 cm
    82 x 62 x 5 cm Framed
    € 2,600.00
    Robertas Narkus, How to Feel Real, 2021
    € 2,600.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Sprite/Kaukas, 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    Sprite/Kaukas, 2021
    49 x 33 cm
    19 1/2 x 13 in
    € 335.00
    Robertas Narkus, Sprite/Kaukas, 2021
    € 335.00
  • Robertas Narkus, How to feel real, 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    How to feel real, 2021
    100 x 133 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, Revenge Coin Eye, 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    Revenge Coin Eye, 2021
    150 x 100 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, DmrQTCN from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    DmrQTCN from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, #9_A6&l from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    #9_A6&l from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, zaj%g{m from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    zaj%g{m from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, Rx87U1n from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    Rx87U1n from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, aCzsaLR from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    aCzsaLR from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, :pc/>: from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    :pc/>: from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, QxLhAzvZW from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    QxLhAzvZW from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, .PmCr==F. from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    .PmCr==F. from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, IFCfeN from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    IFCfeN from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, H%O&di from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    H%O&di from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, West Coast, 2011
    Robertas Narkus
    West Coast, 2011
    84 x 64 cm
    85 x 65 x 2 cm Framed
  • Robertas Narkus, Final Draft, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Final Draft, 2022
    38.1 x 42.2 x 3 cm
    € 4,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, Speachless, 2022
    Robertas Narkus
    Speachless, 2022
    51 x 50.9 x 5.1 cm
    € 4,000.00
  • Robertas Narkus, L]z:`ed from the series "The Board", 2020
    Robertas Narkus
    L]z:`ed from the series "The Board", 2020
    168 x 126 x 2 cm
  • Robertas Narkus, Sprite-:d7[BM, 2021
    Robertas Narkus
    Sprite-:d7[BM, 2021
    150 x 100 cm
Biography

Born 1983 in Vilnius, Lithuania

Lives and works in Vilnius, Lithuania

 

EDUCATION/RESIDENCIES

2021 – MMCA Seoul at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (South Korea)

2020 – Nida art colony (Lithuania)

2018 – Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (United Kingdom)

2018 – Delfina Foundation Residency (United Kingdom)

2016 – Skaftel Art Center residency (Greece)

2014 – Performing Art Forum (France)

2013-2015 – Sandberg institute, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

2012 – Rupert project-based para-academic educational program (Lithuania)

2012 – Bregenz Kunsthaus residency program (Austria)

2010 – MA Photography and Media Art, Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania)

2006 – BA Photography and Media Art, Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania)

2004 – Exchange program at Turku Academy of arts (Finland)

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 – Gut Feeling, Lithuanian pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2022.

2020 – Valdyba/The Board, VARTAI Gallery, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2019 – Prospect Revenge, David Dale gallery, Glasgow (Scotland)

2019 – Sphynx, Editorial project space, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2017 – Träger, Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2017 – Guest, KIM?, Riga (Latvia)

2016 – Doghme, Neverland gallery, Amsterdam, (The Netherlands)

2015 – Easy CUTZ, Juliette Jongma gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

2014 – Turbulence-3, Tenderpixel gallery, London (United Kingdom)

2012 – Red Herring / Lithuanian Art 2012, Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius (Lithuania)

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 - The Board, Eastcontemporary, Milan (Italy)

2020 - The Board, Galerija Vartai, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2019 – XVII a., Autarkia, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2019 – I had amnesia once or twice, Polansky gallery, Prague (Czech Republic)

2018 – Waiting for Another Coming, Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw (Poland)

2018 – How can large mountains enter small ice, Delfina foundation, London (United Kingdom)

2018 – Artist film international (video screenings), Whitechapel gallery, London (United Kingdom), ‘Ballroom Marfa’ (USA)

2018 – Future is certain it’s the past which is unpredictable, Blaffer museum, Houston (USA)

2017 – Climbing Invisible Structures/Lipti nematomomis struktūromis, Akershus art center, Lillestrøm (Norway)

2016 – Žilvitis, Gallery VARTAI, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2016 – The Economy is Spinning, Unfold online platform

2015 – XII Baltic Triennial, Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2015 – Spell to Spelling - Spelling to Spell, de Apple Art center, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

2015 – A Day in a Life of Thomas, Stedeljik Museum, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

2015 – Making sense, Juliette Jongma Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

2015 – Vienna Contemporary 2015, Vienna (Austria)

2015 – Artissima 2015, Torino (Italy)

2014 – Exlibris for a library not yet began, Podium (Oslo)

2014 – a Cab, Kunsthalle Athena, Athens (Greece)

2014 – Elusive Earths, Etablissement d' En Face Projects, Brussels (Belgium)

2014 – WeberWoche, Stroom Den Haag art center, Hague (The Netherlands)

2014 – Unanswered Q, Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2014 – Father can’t You See I’m Burning?, De Appel Art Center, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

2014 – Porn for the Blind, Juliette Jongma Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

2014 – Marrakech biennale 5th edition, Half Hotel, Marrakech (Morocco)

2013 – ANNE, Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2013 – FAST FLUX, Studio - X, New York (USA)

2013 – Part of the bigger whole, Twelve star gallery, London (United Kingdom)

2013 – Usue Arieta & Vicente Vazquez, Lisi-Humerlee gallery, Bregenz (Austria)

2012 – Generation of the the Place: Image, Memory and Fiction, Tallinn Kunsthalle, Tallinn (Estonia)

2011 – Spheres of Power/ tension and exchange, GlogauAIR, Berlin (Germany)

2010 – Moscow Biennale for Young Art, MMOMA, Moscow (Russia)

2010 – Illusion of inclusion, VARTAI Gallery, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2008 – Young Lithuanian art gallery, Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris (France)

2008 – Lithuanian Art ’08: Photography, Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2008 – Made in China, International festival of photography, Lodz (Poland)

2008 – Media arts festival ENTER, Vilnius (Lithuania)

2008 – Down to the rabbit’s hole. Meeting the familiar, Rael Artel gallery, Tartu (Estonia)

2007 – Ciurlionis 2024, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius (Lithuania)

COLLECTIONS

Lewben Art Foundation, Vilnius, Lithuania

Kiasma museum collection

Private collections

AWARDS

2014 – ‘Young Artist Award’ from Ministry of Culture of Lithuania

2013 – State Scholarship for the artist by Ministry of Culture of Lithuania

2010 – Vilnius City Mayor award for emerging artists

Exhibitions
Art Fairs
Video
Bibliography

PUBLICATIONS

2019 - Robertas Narkus, eeK 2014-2018: Eksperimentinės inžinerijos stovykla eeKūlgrinda, Kaunas: Six Chair books, 2019

BOOKS/CATALOGUES

2019 - After Leaving | Before Arriving, catalogue, ed.: Kotryna Žemaitytė, Kaunas: VšĮ Kauno bienalė, 2019          

2018 - Linas Bliškevičius, "Robertas Narkus", in: VAA interview: art school, ed.: Jogintė Bučinskaitė, Vilnius: Vilniaus dailės akademijos leidykla, 2018

2017 - The Economy is Spinning, catalogue, ed.: Kris Dittel, Onomatopee, 2017

2015 - Unanswered Q, catalogue, Vilnius: Šiuolaikinio meno centras, 2015

2014 - WeberWoche, catalogue, The Netherlands: Stroom Den Haag, 2014

2013 - Lights on: gidas į šiuolaikinę Lietuvos jaunųjų fotografiją, ed.: Eglė Detuvaitė, Vilnius: Lietuvos fotomenininkų sąjunga, 2013

2011 - Generation of the Place: Image, Memory and Fiction in the Baltics, ed.: Vytautas Michelkevičius, catalogue, Vilnius: VšĮ Mene, 2011

ARTICLES/INTERVIEWS

2020 - Margarita Alper, "Lietuvos atstovas Venecijos meno bienalėje Robertas Narkus: tai projektas apie skrandžio, smegenų ir širdies ryšį", in: lrt.lt, 2020-11-25

2020 - Monika Bertašiūtė, "Lietuvai Venecijoje atstovausiantis R.Narkus: o gal mes dvejus metus iš eilės pelnysime 'Auksinį liūtą'?", in: 15min.lt, 2020-11-27,

2020 - Linas Bliškevičius, "An Interview with Robertas Narkus", in: Echo Gone Wrong, 2020-10-21

2020 - Linas Bliškevičius, "Revzionierius", in: 7md.lt, 2020-09-18

2020 - Linas Bliškevičius, "τὰ ἐπὶ τὰ μεταφυσικά (I dalis)", in: artnews.lt, 2020-12-17

2020 - Tautvydas Urbelis, "Robertas Narkus - aš esu optimistas, regiu naują jautresnį žmogų", in: 15min.lt, 2020-08-12

2019 - Mimi Chu, "The New Wave of Anti-Authority Performing Artists", in: Frieze, 2019-09-22

2017 - Elvia Wilk, "If the Exhibition Were a Factory, it Would Be Producing Glue", in: Mousse Magazine, no. 59, 2017

2017 - Elvia Wilk, "Postcards from Vilnius & Riga", in: Frieze, 2017-03-23, 

2017 - Jolanta Marcišauskytė-Jurašienė, "Šundaktarystė kaip strategija", in: 7md.lt, 2017-05-19, 

2017 - Borbála Soós, "All options are better options. Robertas Narkus in conversation with Borbála Soós", in: Echo Gone Wrong, 2017-04-26, 

2015 - Zane Ozola, "The Coincidences of Robertas Narkus", in: arterritory.com, 2015-09-25

2015 - Gerda Paliušytė, "Nuotykis, nuotėkis. Pokalbis su Robertu Narkumi", in: artnews.lt, 2015-05-03

News
Video