Artwork in the room
Verdenė Monika Valkiūnaitė is a Lithuanian artist whose practice encompasses scenography, drawing, and painting. She received her bachelor’s degree in scenography from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2018, later earning her master’s from the same institution in 2021. Since completing her studies, she has continually produced new works and participated in exhibitions, both at home in Lithuania and abroad.
When painting, Valkiūnaitė aims to cultivate a distinctive style and expressive approach, often drawing inspiration from her early life. Her method includes assembling scenographic components on flat surfaces and reinterpreting the responsibilities of the scenographer by placing emphasis on crafting a sensual atmosphere throughout the canvas. She adopts a spontaneous and intuitive process, frequently forgoing preliminary sketches in favor of allowing her compositions to emerge organically.
A prominent feature of her art is the use of multiple layers, which give her canvases both depth and spatial complexity. She favors vivid, luminous colors, engaging with their contrasts and relationships to infuse her paintings with energy and playfulness. In organizing her exhibitions, Valkiūnaitė invites viewers to navigate the space, encounter unexpected barriers, and immerse themselves in environments that are simultaneously novel and intimate, often populated by captivating characters.
For Valkiūnaitė, perseverance and continuous exploration are more valuable than brief moments of inspiration. Her creative process involves gathering her experiences, reevaluating them, and subsequently interpreting them through her artwork. Among her significant solo exhibitions are “Savannid” at Jakobi galerii in Tartu, Estonia (2023), “Savanna and Other Spells” at Baltasis koridorius in Vilnius, Lithuania (2023), and “Planes (after the exit of the gorillas)” exhibited at both the VAA Library and gallery AKADEMIJA in Vilnius, Lithuania (2020).
About this artwork+
The painting depicts a mesmerizing and vibrant interplay of colors and patterns, set against a texturally rich background that shifts from pale blues and lilacs at the top to deeper indigos at the bottom. The scene is animated with the fluid, dynamic forms of two stylized animals, resembling a crocodile and African wild dogs, rendered in a strikingly bold palette of reds and dotted with vibrant yellows and oranges. The crocodile, larger and more dominant, occupies the right side of the canvas, its form elongated and tapering, curving gracefully. It appears to be partially submerged in water, suggested by the rippling, vertical brushstrokes surrounding it. This aquatic effect continues across the canvas, giving the impression of a water-drenched environment. In contrast, the two smaller wild dogs are depicted in full sprint on the left, frozen mid-movement, with their bodies stretched towards the crocodile, indicating motion and perhaps, an unfolding chase. The contrast between the static, lurking presence of the crocodile and the kinetic energy of the dogs creates a dynamic tension, evoking themes of predator and prey, survival, and the wild rhythm of nature.
