Artwork in the room
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 "December Day" by Vidmantas Jažauskas, a winter scene unfolds, capturing a quaint, snow-covered village. The soft, muted palette primarily consists of grays, whites, and hints of pale yellow and blue, evoking a chilly, serene atmosphere. A cluster of rustic houses with peaked roofs and weathered walls dominate the composition, their windows little more than dark specks under heavy, snow-laden eaves. Each structure slightly overlaps the next, creating a cozy gathering of forms. A solitary bare tree stands in the foreground, its branches stark against the wintry sky. Off to the left, gentle wisps of smoke rise into the gray expanse above, suggesting the warmth of hearth fires burning within the homes. The snow, depicted with textured brushstrokes of white and gray, blankets everything softly, smoothing edges and muffling the usual vividness of the landscape. Reflections in a visible patch of water or ice add a subtle gleam, hinting at the presence of life beneath the quietude of this frozen moment. The overall mood is tranquil yet somber, a typical day in December captured with an intimate appreciation for its subdued beauty.
