Vilmantas Marcinkevičius was born in Kaunas in 1969. Trained at the Vilnius Academy of Arts (1989-1995) during the collapse of the Soviet Union, the future artist emerged onto the art scene with a strong appetite for personal narratives.
Expressionism, which allowed for highly introspective and emotional re-editions of internal psychological states, appeared as a natural choice and solution. The human figure, central to both expressionism and post-expressionism, is once more very present under Marcinkevičius’ brush. With little regard or concern for anatomical representations, bodies are extended, contracted and distorted to better convey internal machinations.
Colour choices underline representative choices. However, whereas expressionist figures tend to be captured through muted generally homogenous tones, Marcinkevičius looks slightly further back in art history and opts for the complementary schemes developed by the Impressionists. The light blue and yellow/orange paring, in particular, finds its way into the artist’s corpus.
Through distressed figures and vibrant colours, Marcinkevičius asks the viewer uncomfortable questions about history, nation, state and individual, and the price of political, economic and personal victories and losses. Yet, although all these questions are raised, their question marks remain, the artist never answering for the spectator.
This beautiful talent for ambiguity has garnered the artist a respected reputation as a portraitist. Among the political and popular figures Marcinkevičius has painted, we can list:
Peter Møller, owner of Morsø Iron Foundry, Denmark (2007); Leif Davidsen, author, Denmark (2006); Britta Duelund, Mayor of Faaborg, Denmark (2006); Princess Alexandra and Prince Joachim of Denmark (2004); Peter Kirstein, Professor at University College London, England (2004); Steffen Andreasen, Mayor of Tjele, Denmark (2002).
Among his long list of projects and rewards, we can highlight:
Saatchi showdown winner, London, UK (2009); ‘Neopopart’ at the Studentu meno centras art centre (2006); BITE Art Space organiser and participant (2005); Artist of the Year, Vartai gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania (2005); Lietuvos rytas (Morning of Lithuania) daily newspaper prize, Lithuania (2004); Special Prize, Vilnius X Baltic Triennial, Vilnius, Lithuania (2004); Artist of the Year, LAATGA prize, Vilnius, Lithuania (2001); Artist of the Year, Viborg City Prize, Denmark (2000); Second Prize, Hermis Bank art competition, Vilnius, Lithuania (1998).
