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+
In the painting "Herbivorous Dragon" by Verdenė Monika Valkiūnaitė, we see a fantastical scene that seems to blur the lines between the surreal and the natural world. The artist uses a palette of soft greens, blues, and hints of red to create a dreamlike atmosphere. At the center of the composition is an arc-like structure studded with bright, circular forms that resemble flowers or jewels, possibly representing the spine or body of the mythical dragon mentioned in the title. This central form curves gracefully over a landscape that appears fluid and undefined, suggesting movement and transformation. Below and around this structure are patches of rich color and texture, giving the impression of a lush, overgrown garden or an underwater realm. The use of red accents in various shades adds a vibrant contrast to the predominantly cool tones, drawing the eye and enhancing the sense of a living, breathing entity within the painting. The background and other areas of the canvas are treated with lighter, more diffuse applications of paint, contributing to a sense of depth and mystery, as if we are peering into a different dimension where a gentle dragon might dwell among ethereal blooms.
