Žygimantas Augustinas. IN.500

Žygimantas Augustinas. “IN.500”

This year marks the 500^th anniversary of the birth of Žygimantas Augustas (Sigismund II Augustus), the king of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania. The letters “IN” mentioned in the title supplement and separate the surname of the exhibition author from the King‘s, they can also be read as an English preposition, which indicates place, time, means, status, purpose. The similarity of the names and this preposition offer the author to move into the life of important Lithuanian personality and show it not through the eyes of a historian, but through the eyes of an artist. The anniversary exhibition “IN.500” and the recently published book “To ŽA” summarize and complete a project that lasted more than five years, during which created artworks will remind with a humor about the ambiguity of Lithuanian history and the role of the “human factor” in its interpretation and creation. The aim of the exhibition “IN.500”, is not to reveal Lithuanian and Poland history, but to show how a person, who tries to adapt a history for himself, for his trivial selfish goals and vanity, looks like. Looking for a useful and interesting historical facts, which may have been falsified by such people in the past, as well as usage of scientific methods to prove their truth. Questioning why people want to be proud of their history.

Žygimantas Augustinas (b.1973) lives and works in Vilnius, Lithuania. Studied art at Vilnius Academy of Arts, the Florence Academy of Art, the Art Students League of New York. In 2015 Ž. Augustinas was awarded Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Since 1998 actively participates in group exhibitions, held more then 10 solo exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad. His artworks usually are related with the representation of the human body and perception of physical and psychological realities. The main source of inspiration is his own body and various texts. His works are in collections of the Lewben Art Foundation, the Modern Art Museum of Lithuania and many private collectors.

* Due to the increasing infections of COVID-19 and current regulations Meno Parkas gallery is closed for visitors. 

Exhibition is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Lithuanian Artists‘ Association.

Illustration | Žygimantas Augustinas. The King Žygimantas Augustas Speaks Through the Lips of Historians. Painting „Jis #5“, oil on panel, 55 x 55 cm. „Monarch“, modified amplifier, horn speakers. „rp-1“, audio 2.16‘ (based on texts of historians Malgorzata Duczmal, Stanislaw Cynarsky and Krzysztof Warszewicki). 2020 ↓