Born in 1961, Vidmantas Jažauskas is a Lithuanian artist who graduated from the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Throughout his artistic career, he has shown unwavering dedication to the fundamental principles of painting, which he continually examines and hones within his practice. Despite his talent and achievements, Jažauskas intentionally avoids public attention, shunning exhibitions and refraining from self-promotion. This preference for solitude provides him with the space to concentrate on the inner warmth and emotional layers that characterize his art.
Vidmantas Jažauskas’s paintings are noted for their classical sensibility, yet they are anything but conventional. He sees ongoing promise in the traditional approach to painting and reveals this through his distinctive manipulation of color and form. Instead of fixating on minute details, Jažauskas prioritizes the overall impression of a scene, presenting it as though observed from afar with a gentle gaze. This vantage point allows viewers to perceive his works as unified wholes that radiate emotion and ambiance.
For inspiration, the artist primarily turns to Lithuanian landscapes and urban vistas. Scenes from nature and city life recur throughout his oeuvre, as Jažauskas is drawn to portray the shifting seasons and the unique spirit of local places. In the summer, he joins plein-air painting sessions, immersing himself in the outdoors to capture nature’s brief beauty directly on canvas. Oppositely, winter finds him in the city, where the streets of Kaunas and Vilnius frequently provide subject matter for his paintings.
Of all the locations he portrays, Vidmantas Jažauskas feels a particular fondness for Užupis, a romantic neighborhood in Vilnius celebrated for its creative community and bohemian mood. This affection is apparent in numerous cityscapes, where the distinctive aura and vibrancy of Užupis emerge through his skillful use of vivid colors, contrasted shades, and dynamic compositions. By means of his artwork, Jažauskas affirms that classical traditions still offer resonance and expressive richness for audiences today.
About this artwork+
In the painting, a young woman sits passively in the background, rendered in soft, muted blues and grays which contrast with the vivid colors of the scene around her. Her gaze is directed downward, introspective or perhaps melancholic. Occupying the right side of the canvas and bursting into the room with striking dynamism is a scarlet macaw. Its feathers are a brilliant display of red, blue, and yellow hues; wings splayed as if captured in mid-flight. In the foreground, there's a wooden table cluttered with various domestic items: a couple of brown ceramic jars, a green bottle, a metal pot, a white teapot, and a small cup. Also present is a round wooden board holding some flatware and a checkered napkin. An image of a woman, possibly a small painting or photograph, adds a layer of intimacy to the setting. The overall atmosphere marries everyday tranquility with a fleeting burst of vibrant life, symbolized by the parrot. The use of color and the distribution of elements within the composition create a balance between stillness and motion, encapsulating a moment both serene and alive.
