ONCE THERE LIVED A FIERY READ

GERMANY – LITHUANIA – RUSSIA
ONCE THERE LIVED A FIERY
READ-HEADED ARTIST…
P.S. TO INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF EXPRESSIONISTS
The concept of the Berlin – Vilnius – Moscow exhibition originated from the aide of German
artist-expressionist Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884-1976) about unification of various
artistic trends and creative search into a bridge into future art.
future art. The idea of the exhibition was sup-
paintings. Pictures of Russian artists – Valery
ported by the Titlas group of Lithuanian artists
Volkov, Yelena Krylova, Viktor Fedotov, Tamata
headed by Saulius Kruopis who has been for
Grigoryeva, Irina Akulenko, Sergey Lychagin,
many years advocating expressionist ideas and
and Natalija Jankowskaja – were distinguished
holding creative workshops in the Lithuanian
at the exhibition not only by serious topics but
town of Nida where German expressionists ar-
also by a variety of composition solutions.
ranged their plain-airs a hundred years ago and
Natalija Jankowskaja said the art of all
an exhibition of modern artists who continue
sionism which they perceived mostly as a
early summer the Union of Art-
expressionism traditions and trends. It is an
model of emotional comprehension of
ists of Russia held an exhibition
emotional and substantial artistic guideline in
the world through personal affection.
called Culture Bridges: Berlin - Vilnius -
fine arts which exerted a major influence on the
Their creativity is individual and differs in
Moscow. Like the two previous displays
arts in the world.
style from each other. All artists stick to
CULTURAL HERITAGE
In
the show was a stage of the international
The concept of the Berlin - Vilnius - Mos-
the professional school, culture, and ar-
exhibition project devoted to the cente-
cow exhibition originated from the idea of Ger-
tistic achievements of their countries.
nary of the recognition of expression-
man artist-expressionist Karl Schmidt-Rottluff
The unlikeliness and originality of images
ism as an independent artistic guideline.
(1884-1976) about unification of various artis-
and plastic art of the paintings comprised
The first exhibition was held in Berlin in
tic trends and creative search for a bridge into
the zest and artistic interest of the exhi-
March 2011 in Russisches Haus and the
bition. The display was multi-faceted and
second followed in Vilnius in April
unique in its historic significance as there
2012 in the 2W gallery of the capital
have been no similar exhibitions of mod-
city. The Moscow show was the con-
ern
cluding chord. It was organized by
Jankowskaja is specifically proud of it. . .
impressionism
so
far.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
painters is based on traditions of expres-
Natalija
the Moscow gallery Non Omnes with
the participation of the international
MOSCOW EXHIBITION –
CONCLUDING CHORD
public organization Russia - Germany Society and the Moscow branch
of the Union of Artists of Russia,
Besides the exhibition, Moscow
the Union of Artists of Lithuania,
also held a conference at which repre-
the Lithuanian association of artists
sentatives of different artistic directions
Titlas (Bridge), and with support of
compared experimental creativity of ex-
the embassies of Germany, Lithu-
pressionists in various artistic fields and
ania, and Russia, the culture minis-
explained the play of images in literature,
tries of Lithuania and Russia. Natali-
arts, and architecture. The presentation
ja Jankowskaja, the director of Non
Omnes Gallery supervised the exhibition and the Culture Bridges project.
It
102
Lithuanian artists participated in them.
of a new issue of Foreign Literature magazine
The display in Berlin featured the works of
was devoted to German expressionism. Lithua-
nine modern Lithuanian artists - Arune Tornau,
nian artist Saulius Kruopis, his Moscow col-
Algimantas Kliauga, Aleksandras Vozbinas, Sau-
leagues and art critics spoke out.
lius Kruopis, Dalvis Udris, Skaidre Butnoriute,
Experts agreed the exhibition project al-
all began in artistic salons of the
Armonas Svajunas, Juozas Prauchevichius and
lowed to compare historic traditions and crea-
German capital city. It was there
Solomon Teitelbaum.
tive specifics of various-generation artists from
that the Non Omnes Gallery headed by
Their German colleagues - Ingrid Kaftan,
three countries - Germany, Lithuania, and Russia.
Natalija Jankowskaja organized in the
Britta Naumann, Waltraud Schwarz, Karina Stan-
It is interesting by its broad display as it includes
framework of its Culture Bridges project
gle, Grit Sauerborn – also presented exciting
works that reveal cultural and esthetic differenc-
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AMBER BRIDGE. INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE. 2012. № 3 (7)
103
es and common creativity of artists from the
sand kilometers. The distance between Vilnius
three countries, exposes variety of imaginative
and Berlin is the same.
plastic and conceptual composition solutions.
Why does the exhibition involve artists
only from the three countries?
in
Berlin
Why did expressionism become the main
Lithuania has the Titlas group of artists
hosted the Kazukas fair which is the
who have been advocating for many years the
annual traditional fair of Polish and
bridges between Baltic countries? Exhibition su-
idea of expressionism and organizing creative
Lithuanian handicrafts dating back
pervisor Natalija Jankowskaja explained:
artistic workshops in the Lithuanian town of
to the XVII century. Lithuanian art-
Nida. They supported the
ists brought gifts from the fair and
idea
exhibition
presented them to guests, organiz-
while distinguished Rus-
ers, and colleagues. The private
sian expressionists Vasily
viewing was attended and ad-
Kandinsky, Alexey Yavlen-
dressed by Russian cultural attache
sky,
Verevkina
in Germany Alexander Lopushinsky
were at the roots of the
and Lithuanian attache Rasa Balc-
effort.
cikonyte. The exhibition was a re-
of
the
Marianna
How did the project develop?
markable event in the cultural life
which has been strongly influencing world art in
As three countries participate in the pro-
of Berlin, for Lithuania diaspora
general for a hundred years. It entered out life
ject it was decided to hold three exhibitions in
specifically. President of the Rus-
and exerted a major impact on architecture, lit-
turn, beginning in Berlin and building a bridge
sia-Germany Society Yuri Roslyak
erature, poetry, theater, and cinema. The trend
between three cities.
sent a message of greetings and
— Expressionism is a fine arts guideline
CULTURAL HERITAGE
exhibition
topic of the fruitful attempt to span cultural
The concept of the Berlin - Vilnius - Moscow exhibition
originated from the aide of German artist-expressionist Karl
Schmidt-Rottluff (1884-1976) about unification of various
artistic trends and creative search into a bridge into future art.
mostly developed in Germany and Austria in
1911-1922 and the period was even called a
decade of expressionism. It was expressionism
that
laid
the
foundation
for
modern
art,
Did official authorities of participating
countries provide any support?
Unfortunately, international-scale exhibi-
new artistic tech-
nia
nique, and
organized
very
birth to interest-
rarely
late.
ing
experiments
Therefore, the idea
in all spheres of
of the multi-stage
artistic activity.
international
Why
have
of
pro-
ject Culture Bridg-
to
es: Berlin - Vilnius
hold the exhibi-
- Moscow devot-
tion?
ed to the centeThe
idea
originated
be-
tween
the
warm welcome and there were
been
did
decide
Skaidre Butnotiute, Saulius Kruopis, Tamara Grigorieva, Natalija Jankovskaja
tion projects involving artists from Russia, Germany, and Lithua-
gave
wished success to our project.
In Vilnius we had a very
breathed life into
you
104
The
opened in March when Lithuania
nary
of
expres-
sionism
was
skies
supported by the
numerous unforgettable meetings. The Union of
Alas, there is no limit to perfection and
and earth. I was at
embassies of Ger-
Artists of Lithuania and its Chairman Yevgeny
there is always room for improvement. The main
a plain-air in Lith-
many,
Lithuania,
Nalivaika and Secretary Egle Bertasiene provid-
thing is that the project was accomplished and
uania.
Russia,
culture
ed immense support to us. In Moscow the exhi-
27 artists from three countries participated in it.
tour of the Vilnius
ministries of Lithu-
bition was joined by distinguished sculptors
The project enjoyed a broad public response
TV tower the idea
ania
Russia,
which invigorated the display in the halls of the
and occupied a worthy place in artistic life of
of bridges origi-
Unions of Artists
Moscow branch of the Union of Artists of Russia
Germany, Lithuania, and Russia. Now it is all in
nated. It is inter-
and
by
in Begovaya Street. Nikolai Tereschenko, Merit-
the past and we have to look into the future and
esting
prepare new interesting projects.
During
that
a
the
and
naturally
galleries,
collec-
ed Artist of Russia and corresponding member
distance between
tors
artistic
of the Russian Academy of Arts, provided major
Moscow and Vil-
public of the three
nius is one thou-
countries.
AMBER BRIDGE. INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE. 2012. № 3 (7)
CULTURAL HERITAGE
thinking, as well as specific technique, original
What was most impressing
in each stage?
and
assistance to the project.
Did all your expectations come true?
Anton Shenin.
Berlin – Vilnius – Moscow
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105