Artwork in the room
Aurelija Kairytė Smolianskienė is a painter whose artwork has been featured in numerous local exhibitions throughout Lithuania. She adeptly merges watercolour and oil on canvas, delving into the dynamic relationship between these two mediums to craft vibrant and harmonious compositions. By making deliberate choices in materials, she is able to experiment with both translucency and texture, producing paintings that capture delicate nuances of colour and form.
Residing on an animal farm nestled within the Lithuanian countryside, Aurelija is constantly surrounded by unspoiled forests and tranquil velvet lakes that inspire her artistic vision each day. The magical landscape and its wealth of natural beauty frequently appear as repeating motifs in her paintings. Moreover, local folk legends and the fantasies sparked by them nurture her imagination, playing a significant role in shaping her visual narratives.
Drawing extensively on her own experiences and emotions, Aurelija’s work remains deeply personal while also resonating with a wider audience. As an artist whose roots are grounded in rural Lithuania, she recognizes that her imagery defies straightforward interpretation, weaving together passing recollections, regional myths, and silent dreams. This sense of mystery encourages viewers to engage with her art through their own individual perspectives.
Academically trained in the arts, she completed her studies at the National School of Art. In 2008, Aurelija earned a Master of Arts degree from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania, a significant achievement that has further fostered her development as an artist.
About this artwork+
In the painting, a surreal and vibrantly colored scene unfolds. The background is filled with lush greenery, trees, and what appears to be tropical foliage, contrasting starkly with the sky painted in varying shades of blue. Dominating the central portion of the artwork is an enormous, whimsical creature resembling a peacock with a flowing, intricate array of feathers that swirl into a spiraling pattern. The feathers are adorned with bright pops of orange and yellow. To the right, a small, quaint house with a grey roof and blue walls is depicted. It has a traditional feel, with white-trimmed windows that reflect the surreal colors of the scene. The ground is an extension of the swirling motif, splashed with blue and dotted with round, colorful shapes that resemble flowers or scattered elements. Foregrounding the composition is a figure that appears both ghostly and animated, wearing a brownish outfit, with wide, staring eyes and an exaggerated, open mouth expression that gives it a startled or enigmatic look. The figure seems to be interacting or reacting to the environment, with a stance that suggests movement or dance. Throughout the scene, small red birds fly around, adding to the dynamic and fantastical atmosphere of the painting. The overall effect is one of dreamlike fantasy, full of movement and color, that invites the viewer to decode its myriad of symbolic elements and vibrant details.
