PART OF A LARGER WHOLE INTRODUCES FINEST LITHUANIAN CONTEMPORARY ART IN PRAGUE
For the first time in Prague, at the the New Stage of the National Theatre, Vilnius Contemporary Art Centre is exhibiting 20 prominent Lithuanian artists in a unique exhibition called Part of a Larger Whole. Each invited artist is presenting a large-scale poster that adds to the one unified group showcase. The exhibition, marking Lithuania's Presidency of the EU Council, is arriving from London, and after being displayed in Prague for a month, will continue to Plzen – the designated European culture capital of 2015.
The exhibition title, Part of a Larger Whole, refers to the literary trope of synecdoche, when a smaller part is used to entitle the whole. The works speak of the most important episodes in Lithuanian art over the last twenty years, and mark the problematic aspect of selecting, and therefore, defining the twenty most prominent artists and their oeuvre. The focal theme also questions what actually is “Lithuanian contemporary art today”, since almost one third of the featured artists spend the greater part of their time outside the country, and those residing in their homeland regularly take part in international shows.
“The aim of the exhibition is to get Czech audiences acquainted to the most compelling Lithuanian contemporary art. Echoing the concept of the synecdoche, I can emphasize, that in the EU, each partnering country brings its own unique and valuable part of contribution to the Union, and it becomes our common large whole”, - says the Lithuanian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Aurimas Taurantas.
The project has been made possible through the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vilnius Contemporary Art Centre. The Prague exhibition is organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania and the creative team of New Stage of the National Theatre of the Czech Republic.
The exhibition presents the works by Aidas Bareikis, Gintaras Didžiapetris, Laura Garbštienė, Arūnas Gudaitis, Kristina Inčiūraitė, Donatas Jankauskas, Patricija Jurkšaitytė, Žilvinas Kempinas, Juozas Laivys, Dainius Liškevičius, Mindaugas Lukošaitis, Raimundas Malašauskas, Darius Mikšys, Deimantas Narkevičius, Mindaugas Navakas, Audrius Novickas, Artūras Raila, Eglė Rakauskaitė, Nomeda, Gediminas Urbonas, and Darius Žiūra.
After this first project, the Lithuanian Contemporary Art Centre, other art institutions of the Nordic and Baltic countries and the DOX Contemporary Art Centre will cooperate closely next year, bringing further opportunities to experience contemporary art of Northern Europe in the Czech Republic. Later this year, Lithuanian Presidency will further extend its cultural program with the Lithuanian UNESCO heritage exposition, the exhibition of the Lithuanian award-winning press photography and the presentation of the visionary painter and musician Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis.
Café NONA and PodestaNárodní 4, Prague 1
Open: 4 September – 30 September 2013,
Monday to Friday, 9-24
Saturday to Sunday 11-24
Free admission
