Photos – ArtVilnius archive ©
The biggest visual arts event in the Eastern region, the contemporary art fair ArtVilnius’21, this year again invites everyone in the fall, on October 15-17. The organizers of the international event to be held at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Center LITEXPO present its detailed program one month before the fair.
This year, ArtVilnius’21 invites art lovers with the new slogan “Don’t need to be an art expert for it to thrill you.” According to Diana Stomienė, the director of ArtVilnius’21, this slogan once again reminds everyone that many can collect art.
“The good results of previous sales proved once again that the Lithuanian art market is growing steadily, and art collecting is accessible to everyone. Of course, we faced considerable organizational challenges when organizing this year’s fair because due to the pandemic, many foreign galleries did not know whether they would be able to come. But we are glad that everyone has made it,” said the director of ArtVilnius, adding that the Lithuanian Art Gallerists’ Association, which organizes the fair, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
So Many Newcomers
The program of ArtVilnius’21, which will take place in three of LITEXPO halls, will feature 55 galleries from 12 countries: Lithuania, France, Belarus, Germany, Ukraine, Albania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Italy, and Romania. At the stands, visitors will meet their favourite galleries Okapi (Estonia), Tsekh (Kyiv/Vilnius), Nivet Carzon (France), Lithuanian The Rooster gallery, Meno parkas, Baroti, gallery Kristina Norvilaitė, and others.
ArtVilnius’21 organizers are happy with a large number of new gallery names: Aambulanz Kollektiv (Germany), Gom/Tac (Albania), Vilnius galleries AP Gallery and 8 Eyes and Ears, Šiauliai Art Space S-in, Klaipėda gallery Si:Said, and others. Another new name, the Belarusian gallery Ambasada Kultury, By, has participated as Gallery Y on several occasions in the past, and has been invited as a guest along with the DK gallery in Minsk.
Highlight – Paper
One of the most important highlights of ArtVilnius’21 is contemporary artworks on paper (drawings, collages, graphics, objects, etc.)
“For many years now, drawings and works of art on paper have occupied an important place in the global art market, and even separate fairs are organized for them. And this is not a specific or exclusive theme, working on paper as a medium is used by almost every artist,” said Sonata Baliuckaitė, ArtVilnius art director, emphasizing that like every year, the fair will feature all media: painting, photography, sculpture, video, installations, etc.
Famous Project Area Names
In the ArtVilnius’21 project area, visitors will traditionally be able to see exhibitions of world-famous artists, collections of museums and art foundations, and expositions of institutions. Returning to the fair for the fifth time, Polish Museum of Contemporary Art MOCAK, with curator Monika Koziol in front, will bring a collection of video art; Lewben Art Foundation, founded by ArtVilnius’21 exclusive partner Lewben, will present an NFT (non-fungible tokens) exhibition by international artists in the project area – these are unique works of art that exist only in virtual space.
In the project hall, visitors will also see an installation by Svajonė and Paulius Stanikas, famous artists living in Paris, presenting themselves as SetP Stanikas. The organizers of the fair invite everyone to the stand of the Stasys Eidrigevičius’ Visual Arts Center in Panevėžys, where the drawings of this Lithuanian and world-famous winner of the National Prize for Culture and Arts, Stasys Eidrigevičius, will be presented. In the project area, the Contemporary Art Center will show Jurgis Paškevičius’ project Alternating Current, created especially for the spaces of LITEXPO; the exhibition of Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center will be dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Fluxus movement and the 90th anniversary of Jurgis Mačiūnas.
Plenty of Extra Events
Traditionally, ArtVilnius’21 will present an international exhibition of large-format sculptures, installations, and performances, Takas, which will feature 22 artists this year. The curator of Takas is the artist, curator, lecturer Vytenis Burokas. The interactive LRT studio will host art discussions, lectures, and presentations, which will be broadcast live on Lrt.lt. The daytime conference Stage Art Fair will be organized by the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater.
The art fair will continue the tradition of selecting the best galleries and artists, and visitors will be able to purchase tickets for tours of the fair led by art critics. Those unable to come to ArtVilnius’21 in person will be able to see it in an interactive 3D tour. And those interested in pre-selecting the artworks to be purchased can do it from the electronic catalogue of the fair participants at Artvilnius.com/lt/katalogas. In parallel with ArtVilnius’21, Vilnius residents and city guests will be invited to spend the night at the selected galleries by the gallery festival Art After Hours.
Visitors to the fair are invited to purchase tickets on Tiketa.lt. A discount will be applied to the first 100 day tickets. Following the Government’s resolutions, LITEXPO visitors will be admitted to the fair area only with the National Certificate.
