Римальдас Викшрайтис ГРИМАСЫ УСТАВШЕГО СЕЛА Куратор - Дариус Вайчекаускас
24.09-24.10.2020
Киев
A seemingly objective look at the people being photographed, which is typical of modern photography artists, does not soften the relation with the recorded reality in the Lithuanian author’s works either. Vikšraitis is not only a distanced observer (the quality often identified with modern artists) but also a participator in the situations being shot. He records the rural community which he is a part of in his photographs and the stance inaccessible for outsiders distinguishes Rimaldas Vikšraitis from other photographers. Although there is a plenty of irony in the author’s works, they offer a possibility to empathise with the reality of countryside experiencing decline rather than judge the people who live there.
Without hiding behind an expressive form of artistic photography or cold conceptuality of modern photography, Vikšraitis documents the roles, which have little trace of human dignity, performed in his presence openly. The evidence that the majority of people who posed for the photographer inadequately perceive their personal situation overwhelms the most. Even though photography has already inured us to various images of suffering people who voluntarily stage the performance of their own decline in front of the camera, the photographs are still shocking. They not only spotlight social issues but also make us reconsider the essential categories of humanity.
A sincere language of Rimaldas Vikšraitis’ photographs seems to be understandable and relevant not only to Lithuanian spectator. While recording a local way of rural life, the Lithuanian author created photographs that received an international recognition in the major European Photography Festival Rencontres d'Arlesin 2009. Here Vikšraitis won the Discovery Award, for which his works were nominated by the famous British photographer Martin Parr. Both authors are open to the surrounding world and are ready to show tragicomic aspects of our life; the difference is that one artist discovers them in a globalized world, whereas the other does in a small provincial village.
Организаторы Месяца литовской фотографии в Киеве Клайпедский отдел союза фотохудожников Литвы.
Партнерская поддержка:
Литовский совет по вопросам культуры
Литовский институт культуры
Посольство Литовской Республики в Украине
