For Viktoras Binkis, harmony, order, and sophistication are essential components at the heart of his creative process. He himself notes that his works avoid the chaotic or spontaneous features that are often linked with contemporary art; rather, he characterizes his approach as classical. Although abstract elements may appear in his style, Binkis meticulously maintains a balance among composition, tonality, and color harmony, likening his method to Euclid’s appreciation for symmetry and the harmonious order of the spheres.
The landscape genre occupies a central place in Binkis’s body of work. He views landscapes as an “ideal laboratory” that allows him to investigate the formal potential of painting while at the same time reflecting on and enriching his personal artistic skills. In his pieces, well-known Lithuanian scenery emerges anew through bold viewpoints and inventive uses of color, resulting in images that are by turns dramatic and quietly infused with a dreamlike quality.
Born in 1957, Viktoras Binkis completed his studies in painting at the Vilnius Art Institute in 1988, laying the groundwork for a diverse artistic career that has unfolded over many years.
Since joining the Lithuanian Artists' Union in 1992, Binkis has cultivated an artistic practice that encompasses painting, photography, and sculpture. He has staged more than twenty solo exhibitions, consistently exploring themes of visual harmony, structural order, and the lyrical reinterpretation of the natural world.
About this artwork+
In the painting "House in Istria" by Viktoras Binkis, an old rustic house with stone walls and a traditional tile roof comes into view, dominating the foreground. The architecture suggests a blend of ages and styles, featuring both rounded and triangular archways. To its left, a tower with visible belfry windows rises, possibly part of a small church, characterized by its Gothic-style architectural details and a sturdy, square base. Amid these structures, fragments and rubble are scattered, adding to the sense of aged decay and historical depth of the scene. Sharp, angular forms create a dynamic composition, while the color palette is rich with deep blues of the night sky, contrasting with the earthy tones of the buildings and vibrant green hints suggesting trees or foliage in the background, which further frames the scene. The application of paint appears thick, giving a tactile, almost sculptural feel to the work, enhancing the expressionistic impact of the depicted structures against the night sky.
