Try to make it real. But compared to what?: Contemporary Art from Lithuania

The exhibition presents the most important trends and figures in contemporary Lithuanian art. Its leitmotif is paradox in art. It has been organised in collaboration with the Lithuanian National Museum of Art in Vilnius and is based both on the collections of this institution and private collections.

Paradox defies logical arguments. In art, it is often used as a device to challenge the beliefs and expectations of the audience. The aim is to provoke the audience to take a fresh look at situations that they take for granted.

Lithuanian contemporary art is fond of operating in the sphere of paradox. The generation of contemporary artists grew up in the communist social order, but began to live and create independently in the time of independence. This dichotomy has naturally instilled in them a sense of paradox, as reality became unbearably intense, unbridled and often difficult to comprehend through reason.

This exhibition – which includes installations, videos, sculptures and other objects – shows only some of Lithuanian art of the last 30 years. Thus, this presentation is not a retrospective, but an overview of attitudes that playfully employ paradox in art.

The exhibition is part of the celebrations of the 700^th anniversary of Vilnius.