On April 5th the exhibition of Petras Lincevičius “Counting Time with Pink Sand” opens at the Energy and Technology Museum. In the latest exhibition, the artist emphasizes the theme of time and the (un)significance of local identity in the global world.
Lincevičius is a painter of the young generation, born in Marijampolė and studied at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. He is now a lecturer at this academy, organizer of the Šilavotas Plein Air and founder of the Šilavotas Interdisciplinary Center.
– You painted a new series of works for the exhibition at the Energy and Technology Museum. What inspired you in the museum to dedicate new works to it? – we talked with the author of the exhibition.
– Some of the exhibited works were created last year, but have not been exhibited anywhere yet. And I created the other part thinking about this museum, its history, architecture, but at first glance the direct connections with this space or exhibits are not revealed. The compositions of the works are dynamic, I used bright colors, spraying techniques, which create an interesting contrast with the museum space. I think it makes the works look
different than in the gallery.
The content and form of the works are connected by interfaces with the environment, which become a kind of map of ideas for the viewer. This museum not only talks about the development of energy in Vilnius, but also about the era, which I can only know from historical facts, memories and surviving things. The museum also talks about the years of occupation of Lithuania. This historical part becomes relevant today, when there is a war in
Ukraine, war crimes against the people of Ukraine.
„Nevermore (Never Again)“
To reveal the artist’s point of view
– This goal – a series for a specific space – speaks about site-specific art. What is the
relationship between your work and the environment in which it will appear? You
have created for a certain space before.
– Thinking about the work and its place came from the organization of the plein airs and the reflection on the plein air as a temporary place of residence for artists in today’s field of Lithuanian art. In my creative activity, I am interested in combining the context of works with a specific place and using this interface to expand the contexts of both the museum and the works.
A few years ago, I organized an exhibition at the Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas Memorial Apartment-Museum. After visiting the apartment, I noticed that there are no works depicting Mykolaitis-Putinas’ native homestead. Therefore, I settled in and created in it – in an authentic environment. And I chose the styling of the painting as one that would seem to blend into the
overall interior, the preserved era.
In the current exhibition at the Pamėnkalnis Gallery, I also exhibit a work of art – an old pump-painted room space sandwiched between the structural columns of the gallery. These two solo exhibitions (at the Pamėnkalnis Gallery, which runs until April 5th, and at Energy and Technology Museum, which opens on April 5th) are one work. The works exhibited in both
have interfaces with each other and complement each other.
– Exhibitions in atypical spaces are interesting for the viewer. And what is a good exhibition for you, the author?
– The exhibition, which takes place in spaces other than those specially adapted for it, expands the space and creates a different relationship between the works and the environment. Probably a good exhibition is one that reveals the artist’s personal attitude, at least that’s what I look for myself every time I visit exhibitions.
Šilavotas cultural center
„Next Episode“
– You grew up in an ethnically significant region. When and how did the themes of memory, time, inherited history, nostalgia come into your work?
– The topic of nostalgia arose while studying for a bachelor’s degree, when the change in the living environment and the uncertainty of one’s identity began to raise questions that led to the inherited history, the settlements of the ancestors, and the painting of the objects they used. It was a kind of self-awareness process that goes on throughout life, but the theme of
nostalgia in my work has already moved away. At the moment I am interested in the (un)significance of local identity in the global world, the concepts of time counting. Of course, reflecting on history takes up a lot of space in my work, but it is no longer nostalgic.
– You are the organizer of the Šilavotas Plein Air, you established the Šilavotas Interdisciplinary Center. Returning to your homeland with thoughts of extending your cultural legacy?
– Cultural activities in Šilavotas started with plein airs, which were organized by the painter Alfonsas Vilpišauskas. He later handed over the organization to me. This year the 17th Šilavotas Plein Air is planned. During this time, the interest of cultural tourism and creative activities in Šilavotas has been growing every year, so the Šilavotas Interdisciplinary Center
has emerged through the consistent development of professional culture here.
The activities of the center include the organization of plein airs, creative activities for local residents, cooperation with cultural institutions of Prienai district and other project activities aimed at turning Šilavotas into an interesting cultural center so that in the future it becomes
a gallery, museum and an artists’ residence.
Calculation of brittle time
– You feel a strong connection with your home, even though you live and work in big cities. Are you a rural or urban person?
– Although I am located in Vilnius, I work in Kaunas, I also have to spend a lot of time in Šilavotas, where I keep a bee farm. Last year I started building a holiday home, and there are also regular cultural and organizational matters. Šilavotas, its history and present are close to me and emotionally important – this is my story. But living in the city is also important to me, so I try to keep a balance between them.
– In Vilnius Academy of Arts, Kaunas Faculty, you teach painting, drawing, supervise final thesis. What kind of teacher are you?
– You should probably ask the students who have had or will have to study in my lectures. The most important factor in developing creative abilities is to maintain and strengthen the uniqueness of each student’s personal creative visual language. In summary, the goal of our Department of Painting is to ensure that students fully integrate into the field of Lithuanian contemporary painting during their studies, prepare and participate in exhibitions and art projects.
– “Counting Time with Pink Sand” – what are your thoughts with it?
– Naming activities, plans, exhibition ideas, probably like everyone else in their work, it is difficult to find meaning at the moment – the war in Ukraine comes to mind. Everything you do in life is very fragile and can change in an instant, the future is surrounded by uncertainty – it is a certain calculation of your time in the pink sand.
Prepared by Gintarė Urniežė.
The exhibition opens on April 5th at 5 PM. Admission to the opening of the exhibition is free. Visiting the exhibition on other days – after purchasing a museum visitor’s ticket.