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+
The painting depicts an enigmatic and somewhat eerie nocturnal scene. At the center, a large fishbowl filled with orange and white fish dominates the tableau, casting reflections and refracted light. To its right, a black and white cat with piercing eyes perches ominously, holding a fish in its mouth, suggesting a moment caught in the act of theft. Flanking the fishbowl on the left is a whimsical marionette-like figure, giving the scene a surreal, dreamlike quality with its mismatched proportions and stiff pose. The figure appears to be playing with a paper boat on a string, which floats mid-air, descending towards a cluster of scattered objects that mimic a seashore. These objects, including shells and a starfish, are arranged on a dresser with an intricate front, hinting at a room filled with curiosities. The backdrop features muted blues and grays, with soft lighting that suggests nighttime, and faint imagery that resembles windows or mirrors, adding layers of depth and mystery. Overall, the painting creates a narrative that straddles the line between reality and fantasy, filled with intrigue and subtle tension.
