Žilvinas Landzbergas / Jaime Pitarch: VARTAI 20 Years

November 15, a third exhibition of the 20th anniversary of Vartai Gallery will be opened. The first two exhibitions of the cycle introduced the works of Žilvinas Kempinas and Ugnius Gelguda. This time, the exhibition halls will host the dialogue between the solo shows of Žilvinas Landzbergas and Jaime Pitarch.

Landzbergas and Pitarch use different methods to rethink the existence of modern society. The echoes of the 19th century philosophical thought in the analysis of contemporary problems are expressed through the rich visual language. The problem of alienation – which is still relevant or maybe which is more relevant than ever – requires new approaches and solutions.

The Lithuanian artist Žilvinas Landzbergas introduces two new works that have never been exhibited in Lithuania before. The installations Sun Set and The Future is Now created in 2011 reflect on construction mechanisms of modern social world visions which combine science fiction, consumer society, the power of information, and modern culture. The artist builds three-dimensional narratives using illusiveness, unique comparison of details, modelling of different light sources, combination of two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, and dematerialisation of objects.

According to Landzbergas, we are the creators of myths that underpin our reality. The search for new forms in all possible fields inspired by the continual progress has also opened up new opportunities for the dissemination of new lifestyle, but one seldom gives a thought about the ways in which all of this affects individual persons. Science fiction from old film reels materialises here and now, and the world is changing so fast that the human consciousness is no longer able to reflect the reality and steeps in a certain state of a dream that combines elements of visions of the world broadcasted by the environment, archaic consciousness, and personal experiences. Thus, the distinctive symbolical microcosmos created by Landzbergas’ installations is a certain tool that helps understand personal state and place in the world.

The work of the Spanish artist Jaime Pitarch transforms mundane household items into tools for critical reflection. The artist’s first show in Lithuania recreates household items and consumer goods using simple interventions. According to the artist, if our material production reflects aspects of the human condition, stripping these objects of their function or their image are the uncompleted attempts to reach their substantial essence, which should reflect aspects of our own one.

Dominant social and economical models involve people in the continuous cycle of production, creation and recreation, where products created by human being become unrecognisable to himself. The artist believes that art can help relocate mundane objects from a material to a spiritual context. The dysfunctional items of the exhibition are a sort of a physical expression inadequacy of relationships between personal and collective formations.

Pitarch finds it important that in the modern world human being is no longer capable of identifying himself with the structures he himself has created, whether it is culture, social relationships, rituals, marriage, or whatever, therefore man always needs to look for ways to insert himself into the world. He considers this action to be destiny and an act of great beauty which can be characterised by states often also attributed to his works, such as meaninglessness, search for equilibrium, or insecurity.

Žilvinas Landzbergas (born 1979) lives and works in Vilnius. In 1998–2004, he studied in Vilnius Academy of Arts, Department of Sculpture. In 2001, he studied in the Department of Fine Arts in the University of Plymouth for one semester. In 2005–2007, he spent two years on the De Ateliers postgraduate artists’ residency in Amsterdam. In 2008, he received the main award of the modern and contemporary art publisher Thieme Art. In 2010, he was one of the Lithuanian artists representing the country in Liverpool International Biennial of Contemporary Art, UK.

Jaime Pitarch lives and works in Barcelona. He received his MFA from the Royal College of Art, London, in 1995. His has participated in Manifesta 7 biennial in Italy (2008), and had shows in Centre d’Art Santa Mónica, Spain; Fondation Maeght and Musée d’Art Contemporain, France; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Spain, etc. A number of his works have been acquired by private collectors and museums (Museo Patio Herreriano, MACBA Collection, Royal College of Art in London, Colección Bergé). In 2007, Pitarch was named one of Art Review Magazine's “Future Greats – Artists You Need to Know”.

Patron: Vilnius City Municipality

Partners of the exhibition: Spanish Embassy in Vilnius, Vilnius Cultural Centre

Sponsors:  Culture Support Foundation of the Republic of Lithuania, Bosca, Lietuvos rytas, Sutkiene Tark Grunte, Infoterminalas, printing house Sapnų sala, JCDecaux

Special thanks to: Jorge Farre, Augustinas Serapinas, Aušra Trakšelytė, Vadimas Daščinskis