The 2^nd Vilnius Ceramic Art Biennale having acquired acceleration based on the experiences of the preparation of the first one. Once again autumn-embraced Vilnius invites to take a look at works of Lithuanian and foreign authors and their ceramic works of last two years.

Gradually, Biennale includes new artists, who wish to present their works here, and anywhere else. The Selection Board (Head of the Board – Juozas Adomonis, members – Živilė Bardzilauskaitė, Eugenijus Čibinskas, Saulius Jankauskas, Rita Mikučionytė, Aldona Šaltenienė, Gvidas Raudonius) had to work really hard, because “Arka” gallery of Lithuanian Artists’ Association could not hold all works, which were presented for event.  

One of the most important novelties of this year – visitors will be able to get acquainted with works of authors that reside outside Lithuania. Artists, who live and work in the United States of America and Canada, accepted the invitation of organizers. One of these artists is a world-wide known ceramist Rimas VisGirda, who was responsible for initiative to invite world-known artist to Lithuania, when it was just making its first steps towards independence. Back then, these artists worked in former “Panevėžys Glass Factory” and all together with Lithuanian ceramists, they embodied the idea of International Ceramics Symposium. As a result, the funds of Panevėžys City Art Gallery have accumulated a unique collection of ceramic works.

An interesting coincidence – Alvydas Pakarklis, another initiator of mentioned Ceramic Symposiums and former artist of Panevėžys Glass factory, who now lives in America, is also participating with his works in Vilnius Biennale. In addition, we are glad that this exhibition has triggered a wave of interest among other Lithuanian-related artists, such as Nora Aušrienė, who graduated her studies of ceramics in Vilnius and now lives in America or Canadian-born Reed Weird, whose mother is a Lithuanian sculptor Elena Žebrauskaitė. We may find the works of Weir in the corpus of Lithuanian Art Museum too.

Another novelty of this Biennale is the uncompetitive art composition of works of the members of the Selection board. It gives us an opportunity to assess the creative potential of its members. After all, the board has not only “sifted” the provided works, but also, it has undertaken to select the laureates of Biennale.

In 2010, a winner of award of professor Liudvikas Strolis (1905–1996), a father of the professional ceramics, was granted for ceramist from Panevėžys, Egidijus Radvenskas; therefore, on this year, he presents a separate exposition of his works, and also, other artists, who were granted a diploma for their works in last Biennale, two years ago, can also present their works without any pre-selections.

Continuing the traditions of the first Biennale, we also have an exhibition of works of the students of Bachelor and Master Degrees of the Ceramics Study Programmes, who study in Vilnius Art Academy and its Kaunas division. Even though, these works of students express a wish to keep in pace with tendencies of world art, they also reflect the classical idea of revealing inborn qualities of material and to using them in ceramics in a creative way.

Curator of Biennale

Artist Gvidas Raudonius