Graphic Art Exhibition “In corpore”

The exhibition features works by Lithuanian graphic artists representing six different generations. Graphic art is one of the oldest forms of visual art; the printed word most likely appeared later than the artistic woodcut print. The exhibition participants use a variety of graphic art techniques in their work, so here you can experience first-hand what such mysteriously sounding words as “lithography”, “etching”, “mezzotint” and others mean. The title of the exhibition, “In corpore” (Lat. body, in one body, or in everyday language used as “all together”), is “borrowed” from the work of one of the participants, Austė Kabašinskienė. “Graphic techniques are so diverse, and moreover, several of them can be combined within a single work, so an artist—who often finds it much easier to express themselves through images rather than words—frequently writes ‘mixed media’ under their work, thus avoiding any attempt to test the viewer’s intellect or general knowledge with complicated terms. That is not what matters most. “In corpore” is an invitation to perceive a work of art as a whole, as one body, regardless of its origin, the author’s titles, or the means by which the work was made. Either the work turns into a ‘body’ and begins to live independently, finding its own path into the soul of each ‘beholder’, or its existence ends at a fancy title and an incomprehensible concept. On the other hand, “In corpore” is a joint exhibition in Raseiniai by artists living in various Lithuanian cities and creating with different graphic techniques,” says the exhibition’s curator Evaldas Mikalauskis. In any case, some understanding of graphic techniques is useful when looking at each author’s work. Augustas Bidlauskas uses the highly complex mezzotint technique, which, through many halftones and a subtle play of light and shadow, makes it possible to achieve an almost realistic, photographic image. Justė Kuliešaitė’s works are created using one of the oldest printing methods—lithography. In 2021, the artist purchased a stone lithography press from Helsinki workshops and has since been creating a personal studio (the first private lithography studio in Lithuania) at her grandparents’ homestead in Viduklė town, Raseiniai district. Birutė Zuokaitytė uses a wide variety of graphic techniques in her works; her unconstrained imagination creates a detailed drawing that draws the viewer in. Her works are characterized by emotionality, scrupulous attention to detail, and the ability to naturally combine the everyday level with higher matters. The story of Mato Dūda’s works was born maybe 20 years ago in an iron garage