Gilles Vuillard is a painter and a film maker. He was born in France and has worked in many places including Italy, Georgia, Iceland, Chile, the Azores, Easter Island, New York, Paris, Berlin... The way he depicts field studies in his paintings is like that of an anthropologist. Consequently, Gilles painted some houses in a portion of Zaliakalnis, and a certain amount of wooden synagogues. All his analog films, as many of his recent paintings, are connected to psychoanalysis and paleoanthropology.
Gilles has exhibited in Paris, Berlin, Vilnius, Kaunas... The Vilnius Gaon Museum and Kaunas' Choral Synagogue Museum hold some of Vuillard's paintings in their collections. From December 13, 2025 to January 28, 2026, the Ivanauskas Museum in Kaunas displays Gilles' most recent paintings. Lithuania's wood architecture cycle, which began twenty years ago, has reached a colorful expressionist moment.
About this artwork+
The painting depicts a dilapidated house standing prominently in a rustic scene. Its wood panels are weathered and worn, streaked with vertical lines that suggest prolonged exposure to the elements. The roof appears to be in the process of repair, partially stripped to the bare bones of its structure. Surrounding the house is a yard, uneven and patchily covered with grass and dirt, hinting at forgetfulness or a lack of care. In the background, another building is visible, smaller and with walls colored in warm tones, featuring a plainly visible door. A bright sky looms above, possibly signifying a time of day when shadows are short and the sun is high. Notably, a figure is seen near one of the buildings, possibly engaged in an everyday task, adding a hint of life to the otherwise still and quiet atmosphere. A subtle sense of stagnation mixed with endurance permeates the scene, reflective of a place and lifestyle shaped by hard, relentless realities.
