Twelve

Vitalis Čepkauskas – well known artist in Lithuanian art scene will represent his newest paintings, drawings and sculptural objects which explore themes of existence, temporality, present time and heroes. While combining aesthetics and topics of pop art, Dadaism and classic art artist explores connection between spirituality and materiality. He questions its relation in space and time and finds unexpected associations which prompt the position of the author. This position, one can say, plays a central role in the exhibition because all represented artworks reveal author‘s personal experiences while exploring past, present and future.

Author separates the exhibition into three parts so it would be easier to separate field he is exploring. Two first parts: “XXI century before our era” and “For now” are series of sculptural objects and pop art paintings. Concrete, bright, contrasting colors, futuristic forms and main represented object – sneaker, constructs clear narrative of reality of nowadays. Objects represented in paintings are images of one-day, constantly changing aesthetics that was formed by mass culture. This is present which could continue for ages or change here and now. Vitalis Čepkauskas does not try to depict the detailed constructions of the objects, he tries to construct them through the prism of fragility and substance of which the main feature is volatility. Artist ironizes present and tendency to exalt objects therefore he fantasizes, creates primitive, meaningless objects and doubts its existence, meaning and value.

Third part titled “12 apostles” prompt sacral theme but these characters are chosen by the artist not because of the religious topic but more like symbol or tool which iconography consciously or unconsciously most of the people are surrounded by and can well recognize it. Twelve apostles symbolizes the human values, the true being, raises the question of authority. Confronting spirituality and materiality author searches heroes of nowadays which would be counterbalance for present – constant in time.

In this exhibition symbolism of numbers is also very important. The main numbers – twelve (apostles) and three (parts) represent not only sacral theme, which ironically connects three part of exhibition to Holy Trinity but at the same time reflects idea of time and space. While connecting together (1 + 2 = 3) all numbers also connect the concept of the exhibition exploring past, present and future.

Exhibition at GRAFO gallery will be held until 2018.11.24