Woodcut: from folk art till performance
The exhibition "Woodcut: from folk art till performance" has to show the evolution of woodcut in Lithuania during the last 150 years. The collection contained graphic works made by folk artists in XIX century, works in time between Wars (1918-1940), soviet time (1940-1990), and post soviet - contemporary time.
Two hundred years ago in Lithuania woodcut was used as reproduction method for religion pictures. In the beginning of the twenty-century, professional artists found woodcut as modern graphic technique. Lithuanian artists tended in expressionism, cubism and early abstract movement. During the soviet time, woodcut becomes specifically character. It showed the workers and political heroes in socialist realistic style. Other artists create political-propaganda woodcuts in primitive or expressionism style. And on my opinion it is very interesting works, because from one side they collaborated with politic system, but from another side they work like "Lithuanian folk woodcut". And this movement of "folk art" was very important during soviet time in all Lithuanian culture: music, dancing, fine art. But if we look on it more seriously, we see that it is not from Lithuanian folk art, it is soviet folk art, and it has nothing with Lithuanian folk art.
After 1990, when Lithuania become free, woodcut returned to expressionism, post modern style. The artists found again primitivism. Graphic works become very big or three dimensions, woodcuts was used in performance.
Why it's interesting for as woodcut? Maybe because it developed in Lithuania more energy then other graphic techniques. It was more influenced from Europe art, and in history of woodcut of Lithuanian printmakers we could see the movement of art. Lithography or etching was (and are) more conservatives' techniques for Lithuanian artists. They are interested not in developing of shape/form, but in theme.
Curator of the exhibition Kestutis Vasiliunas
The exhibition "Woodcut: from folk art till performance" has to show the evolution of woodcut in Lithuania during the last 150 years. The collection contained graphic works made by folk artists in XIX century, works in time between Wars (1918-1940), soviet time (1940-1990), and post soviet - contemporary time.
Two hundred years ago in Lithuania woodcut was used as reproduction method for religion pictures. In the beginning of the twenty-century, professional artists found woodcut as modern graphic technique. Lithuanian artists tended in expressionism, cubism and early abstract movement. During the soviet time, woodcut becomes specifically character. It showed the workers and political heroes in socialist realistic style. Other artists create political-propaganda woodcuts in primitive or expressionism style. And on my opinion it is very interesting works, because from one side they collaborated with politic system, but from another side they work like "Lithuanian folk woodcut". And this movement of "folk art" was very important during soviet time in all Lithuanian culture: music, dancing, fine art. But if we look on it more seriously, we see that it is not from Lithuanian folk art, it is soviet folk art, and it has nothing with Lithuanian folk art.
After 1990, when Lithuania become free, woodcut returned to expressionism, post modern style. The artists found again primitivism. Graphic works become very big or three dimensions, woodcuts was used in performance.
Why it's interesting for as woodcut? Maybe because it developed in Lithuania more energy then other graphic techniques. It was more influenced from Europe art, and in history of woodcut of Lithuanian printmakers we could see the movement of art. Lithography or etching was (and are) more conservatives' techniques for Lithuanian artists. They are interested not in developing of shape/form, but in theme.
Curator of the exhibition Kestutis Vasiliunas
Gallery:
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