27 February 2022

Exhibition “Mindaugas Skudutis. PAINTING”

Visitors are welcome to explore the painting exhibition of the works by Lithuanian painter Mindaugas Skudutis which will be hosted at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. The exhibition consists of nearly half a hundred works created by Mindaugas Skudutis over the last decade. Genres include landscape and portrait, still life and thematic composition.

Speaking about the painter’s works, art critic Vidas Poškus said: “Observational power is one of the specific artistic strategies that Mindaugas Skudutis uses (both in his paintings and drawings). In his works, he captures details or life-like combinations that neither the best camera nor the best camcorder can capture. The author himself does not deny being a realist. His realism is characterised by a specific dose of “Skudutis” irony, even when there is a strong impulse to preach or moralise. In addition, M. Skudutis’s paintings are characterised by the unique vitality and liveliness of his brushstroke.”

As Aistė Gabrielė Černiūtė, the curator of the exhibition, pointed out, the author was particularly inspired by the book titled Broma, atverta ing viečnastį (The Gate Opened to Eternity) written by canon Mykolas Olševskis in Videniškiai in mid- eighteenth century. For more than a century, it was one of the most read Lithuanian texts. The following quote from this book is also seen in the self-portrait of M. Skudutis (written on his forehead): “Think about eternity where you will have to live forever. Think about the shortness of your days and how you wasted your life and your young days...”

Among the paintings featured at the exhibition are compositions presented in the book titled Videniškiai. Kunigaikščių Giedraičių žemės beieškant (Videniškiai. In Search of the Land of the Giedraitis Noble Family) by two authors, V. Poškus and M. Skudutis (published earlier this year and containing a large number of painting and drawing illustrations, essayistic art research interpretations, and diary impressions).

About the Artist

Mindaugas Skudutis is a Lithuanian painter. He was born on 8 October 1948 in Antagavė (Ignalina district). He studied at Kaunas Art School, and in 1976, he graduated from Vilnius Art Institute. He started participating in exhibitions in 1976. The artist has organised 15 solo exhibitions, and participated in a number of foreign exhibitions held in Moscow, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Greece. He has been a member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association since 1980. M. Skudutis is a professor at the Vilnius Academy of Arts.

His body of works include figurative compositions, portraits, landscapes, still lifes, nudes, book illustrations, and assemblages. M. Skudutis’s works are dominated by urban themes and depict the scenes from everyday life. His figurative compositions capture the ugly side of a domestic life, grotesque or absurd mood. His paintings feature transparent and clear colours. The artist’s works are characterised by elements of visions, expressiveness, drama, and a synthesis of contrasting motifs.

Brief information about the exhibition

Date	7 March – 1 May
Time	National library opening hours
Venue	atrium, 4th floor
Participation	free entrance
Organiser	Legendos, public organisation
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