Aurora Reinhard / Eemil Karila / Jurga Barilaitė | 15 January - 20 February 2009

Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009 project ARTscape is a large-scale project that involves contemporary art, cinema and jazz, co-organized by some of the most qualified cultural institutions: Kino Pavasaris, Vilnius Jazz and Vartai Gallery. Throughout the year 2009 and in the beginning of 2010 these three experienced institutions will be presenting the contemporary culture scenes of twelve European countries, the cities of which are, were, or will become European capitals of culture. The three different media – art, cinema and music – will outline the diagrams of dynamic cultural processes.

Finland

Helsinki became the first European Capital of Culture of the 21st century, therefore ARTscape not accidentally starts its program with a representation of contemporary art, cinema and jazz scene of this most Northern European country.

The art works presented in the exhibition by Finish artists‘ Aurora Reinhard and Eemil Karila analyze imperceptible or consciously and unconsciously ignored everyday occurrences. Aurora Reinhard will not only show her provocative photography series „Teaser“ but also several video works where a slight motion of everyday objects expands an emotional amplitude of a viewer from laughter to discomfort. Eemil Karila will present his project “Seen / Unseen”, in which usual hierarchy of the art world is turned over and the invisible side of art institutions’ activities is revealed. In her latest video work Lithuanian artist Jurga Barilaitė will gradually put into shapes the at first glance invisible elements of a surface.

Films for the Finnish Film Programme were selected in attempt to have a wider view of Finnish cinema, therefore programme consists not of new releases but those of different year and genre. Aki Kaurismaki was not left aside and this time will be shown his film “I Hired a Contract Killer” telling a story about a French émigré, who is laid-off from his job after fifteen years of service. After failing to commit a suicide, he decides to hire a killer to do the job. Also one will be able to see films of such directors as John Webster, Susanna Helke, Virpi Suutari, Perttu Leppä. All of them tell stories of ordinary people, living at the borders of society.

More contemporary Finnish view of life realia will be introduced in a Short Film Programme “Everyday Spectacles”. Links between Finland and Lithuania were found in a Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian and Finnish co-production “The Bus” where a journey by bus appears to be a keynote.

Thirty-years old saxophonist and composer Mikko Innanen, one of the most prominent personalities on Finnish jazz scene, and his group Innkvisitio present Finnish new improvisational music. In his music the expressive musician is trailblazing wide stylistic horizons from avant-garde classics to authentic blues and Dixieland, enriching his versatile sonorities with unusual turns that oppose conventional stylistic clichés. Paradoxical, original, open and free Mikko Innane & Innkvisitio bravely embarks on intriguing musical adventures. By joining this project Lithuanian saxophonist Liudas Mockūnas who has been successfully appearing on European improvisational music scene for almost a decade heightens the intrigue even more.

Exhibition:

Aurora Reinhard, Eemil Karila and Jurga Barilaitė

January 15th – February 20th

Vartai Gallery, Vilniaus 39, Vilnius www.galerijavartai.lt

Film Programme:

Cinema SKALVIJA, Goštauto 2, Vilnius January 15 , 3 p.m. - Laila Pakalnina "The Bus" January 24, 3 p.m. - Aki Kaurismaki "I Hired a Contract Killer" January 30, 3 p.m. Susanna Helke & Virpi Suutari "Spongers" (Joutilaat) February 3, 7 p.m. John Webster "Suckers" (Polynimurikauppiaat) February 20, 9 p.m. Perttu Leppä "Pearls and pigs" (Helmiä ja sikoja) Vartai Gallery, Vilniaus 39, Vilnius February 12, 7 p.m. - Short movies. Everyday Spectacles www.kinopavasaris.lt

Jazz concert:

Mikko Innanen & Innkvisitio feat. Liudas Mockūnas

February 3rd , 19 : 00

In State Small Theatre of Vilnius, Gedimino pr. 22, Vilnius

www.vilniusjazz.lt

Links:

www.galerijavartai.lt

www.kinopavasaris.lt

www.vilniusjazz.lt

www.culturelive.lt www.finland.lt

www.anhava.com

www.aurorareinhad.com www.eemilkarila.net