Artwork in the room
Šarūnas Šarkauskas, born in 1967 in Kaunas, began developing his artistic abilities at a local four-year art school. Although his subsequent efforts to obtain a formal art education were unsuccessful, painting has continued to be a steadfast and lifelong pursuit for him.
Šarkauskas has held exhibitions in both Vilnius and Kaunas over the course of his career, consistently attracting the interest of attendees. His shows are seen as successful, with visitors drawn in by the unique style and vibrancy present in his art.
The artist himself openly discusses his complicated bond with painting, jokingly stating, "I tried to escape from painting, but it keeps catching up with me." This remark captures the abiding and passionate tie he has to his artistic work.
Museologist Audronė Meškauskaitė has characterized Šarkauskas’ paintings as exuberant with color, marked by bright, joyful contrasts. In her view, his clear and transparent brushstrokes impart a sense of lightness and balance, allowing the elements of his compositions to come together in an unexpectedly harmonious way.
About this artwork+
The painting "Drowning Moon" by Šarūnas Šarkauskas presents a compelling visual narrative, composed of vibrant and textured layers of color, depicting a scene that's divided by a horizontal line. The upper segment shows a large, conspicuous crescent moon bathed in a combination of warm orange and yellow tones, set against a cool blue sky. This section also features abstract elements that appear to add a fragmented texture to the scene. The lower portion of the artwork contrasts starkly with the upper half, teeming with chaotic and dynamic bluish and green brushstrokes that create an impression of a dense, wild thicket or perhaps underwater vegetation. Enigmatic human figures seem to emerge from these brush strokes, their forms obscured and distorted, interacting with the shambled environment around them. These figures, along with elements resembling fish and eyes, contribute to a surreal, dream-like quality, suggesting a theme of submersion or entanglement in nature's depths. The entire composition is rich in symbolism and evokes a sense of drowning or overwhelming, aligned with the painting's title.
