Book launch „(In)dependent Contemporary Art Histories. Artist-run Initiatives in Lithuania 1987–2014. 2nd volume“

2015-01-20

Edited by Vytautas Michelkevičius & Kęstutis Šapoka, published by LTMKS, 2014

The book is launched on 21st of January 7pm in Paviljonas (Pylimo st. 21b, Vilnius, Lithuania) with participation of editors and collaborators Skaidra Trilupaityte and Jurij Dobriakov.

This is the second attempt (1st volume of the book was published in 2011) to compile stories about the genesis and evolution of contemporary art in Lithuania from the period of Revival (1987) and the restoration of Lithuania’s independence to this day. History unfolds in the critical texts by art critics and artists themselves, as well as in first-hand accounts – conversations with the initiators of art events. Texts are accompanied by abundant visual evidence – the documentation of twenty seven years’ worth of events and works of art. The book offers a captivating kaleidoscope of subjective stories about artists’ and curators’ initiatives in Vilnius and other cities in Lithuania.
The Lithuanian Inter­disciplinary Artists’ Association (LeTMeKoo) is an artist-run organisation that has more than 80 members, yet it has always been a virtual organisation (without premises) and organized its projects at Kablys (“The Hook”, the former Railway Workers’ Culture Palace in Vilnius), military barracks in the Northern Town district of Vilnius, the Contemporary Art Centre, the Ministry of Fluxus. Since beginning of 2014 it is running a cosy project space Malonioji 6. LeTMeKoo was established as a non-governmental public organisation (an association) in 1998. The association unites both young and acclaimed artists who participated in the Venice Biennale and other prominent international and local exhibitions. It is the only organisation run by artists and curators in Lithuania that has been consistently active for more than 15 years already. It organizes and produces exhibitions, events and residencies, publishes various publications and represents artists in socio-political situations.
Although the association’s name in Lithuanian resembles those of the creative unions established in the Soviet era, it has no inherited bureaucratic structure, and is thus able to flexibly respond to today’s situation of the Lithuanian art scene and flirt with it.
Excerpts from the book http://issuu.com/ltmks/docs/ltmks_ii_tomas_web_fragments

Conversations with curators and art critics:
Saulius Grigoravičius, Sandra Skurvidaitė, Kęstutis Zapkus, Virginijus Kinčinaitis, Anders Kreuger, Algis Lankelis & Audrius Novickas

Conversations with artists:
Robertas Antinis, Česlovas Lukenskas, Gintaras Zinkevičius, Gintaras Sodeika, Modestas Saukaitis, Saulius Pilinkus, Žilvinas Lilas, Andrius Pulkauninkas, Julius Ludavičius, Rimvydas Pupelis, Antanas Zabielavičius, Paulius Arlauskas, Violeta Jasevičiūtė, Rolandas Rimkūnas & Evaldas Pauza, Jaras Ramūnas, Jonas Vaitiekūnas, Algis Ramanauskas-Greitai, Tadas Šarūnas, Mindaugas Šnipas & Ramūnas Alminas, Vaida Tamoševičiūtė & Daina Pupkevičiūtė, Konstantinas Bogdanas, Darius Pocevičius, Andrius Savickas, Žilvinas Landzbergas & Ūla Tornau, „Pop up“ galerijos steigėjai (YPA)

Texts by: Skaidra Trilupaitytė, Lina Michelkevičė, Redas Diržys, Evaldas Dirgėla

You can find the book in the bookshops or through distributors
http://kitosknygos.lt/Draugu-knygos/Ne-priklausomo-siuolaikinio-meno-istorijos-savivaldos-ir-iniciatyvos-Lietuvoje-1987-2014-m.-II-tomas
www.artbooks.lt (soon)