Artwork in the room
Romas Žmuidzinavičius, a Lithuanian painter, brings an artistic vision that rises above the ordinary facets of everyday life. He is known for his continuous efforts to depict what surpasses routine reality, turning his attention to the unseen forces that influence our lives. His paintings frequently present symbolic figures—caretakers, angels, enigmatic kings—each embodying different life periods, essential values, inner feelings, or protective presences. Thus, Žmuidzinavičius's works affirm the elevation of the spirit and the soul's reflection.
His treatment of landscape painting carries similar depth. Instead of simply representing nature, Žmuidzinavičius explores transformation, cycles, and the connections uniting all living beings with something everlasting. To conjure a sense of mystery and wonder, he often chooses a palette suffused with magical golden light, prevalent at sunset or dawn. This artistic selection not only amplifies the cyclical motifs in his paintings, but also infuses each scene with a comforting warmth and intimacy.
Žmuidzinavičius was born in 1952 in Varėna. He spent his childhood summers in Žiūrai, an ethnographic village alongside the Ūla River. Surrounded by the genuine dialect and customs of the Dzūkai, as well as the splendor of nature, these formative years had a lasting impact on his vividly expressive art. The luminous colors and expressive brushwork that characterize his paintings reveal his ongoing quest for life's deeper significance, all drawn from the landscapes and traditions of his native land.
His artistic education took place at the Vilnius Art School and the Moscow University of Fine Arts, where he also studied the art of fresco under the distinguished Veiverytė. One of his early defining moments was an expedition to Igarka, during which he created 25 pieces for the Culture House Gallery and painted an expansive 500-square-meter mural. Throughout his body of work, recurring imagery—angels, crosses, old towns, and trees—expresses themes of change, longing, and serenity. Utilizing a distinctive multilayered method, his pastel-toned paintings evoke peacefulness and the quiet flow of time.
About this artwork+
This painting by Romas Žmuidzinavičius, named "Under the Care of the Old Garden," captures a serene and vibrant garden scene. It predominantly features richly colored autumn trees. The trees are in hues of orange, gold, and green, suggesting a change of seasons. The sky, streaked with bold reds and creams, adds a dynamic backdrop. In contrast to the warm autumnal trees, there’s a tree with silver-white leaves at the center, drawing the eye with its brightness. Shadows and light dapple the ground, enhancing the sense of depth and texture. The painting’s style is impressionistic, marked by visible brush strokes that blend colors and form at a distance. Žmuidzinavičius employs thick, textured applications of paint, giving the work an almost tactile quality. The scene evokes a timeless tranquility, embodying the protective and enduring spirit of an old garden kept through generations. This artistic approach invites the viewer to feel the crispness of the air and the quiet mood of a late afternoon under the shelter of aged trees.
