The Rooster Gallery kindly invites you to the exhibition CURIOSITÀ by the painter Eglė Norkutė, which will be open from May 10 to 26. in the gallery space (Šv. Brunono Bonifaco st. 12, Vilnius). The opening of the exhibition will take place on May 10, at 7 p.m. In her works, Eglė Norkutė observes and portrays fragments of matter from the surrounding world and hints at otherworldlyexperiences. Her paintings and objects pulsate with an array of enigmatic creatures drawn from the depths, evoking a sense of unease with their unfamiliar names, shapes resembling parts of human anatomy, and slippery surfaces, and paradoxically beckoning us with promises of gourmet feasts and unexploredflavours. The unconventional shapes of her canvases hint at their almost natural origin with their biomorphic silhouettes, and the real and illusory voids gaping in them reveal the mysterious entrails of the bodies, enticing us with the allure of unchartedpleasures, simultaneously tinged with an aura of peril.

Interspersed within Norkutė’s work are fragments of quotes drawn from historical art and contemporary visual culture, snippets from daily life, and ordinary household artifacts, all plucked from their original contexts and transformed into echoes of voyages to distant lands or encounters with long-extinct civilizations. Scientific facts here intermingle with pseudo-scientific musings, while images from zoological and botanical atlases intertwine with illustrations from ancient bestiaries and depictions of tarot cards and alchemical symbols. The objects depicted in Norkutė’s canvases are often reminiscent of attributes of magical rituals, while the arrangement of her works within exhibition spaces evokes the scenery employed in such rituals.

Within this fragmented, eclectic and at first glance chaotic assembly of images, impressions, flavours, experiences, sentiments, and mementos, a discernible thread of curiosity-driven (Italian curiosità) research and collecting practices emerges. Norkutė’s creative process involves the gathering, sorting, and display of images akin to souvenirs, reminiscent of an eccentric cabinet of curiosities or a wonder-room collection.Reflecting on the processes of collecting and museumization, the artist prompts contemplation on the appropriation of artifacts and the cultural memory they carry. Norkutė’s personal experiences are interwoven into her works, with motifs characteristic of Portugal – her current place of residence – abounding, from azulejo tiles to local delicacies. Through her painting, she acquaints herself with these elements, transforming them into repositories of her own memories. Unexpected connections between objects and shifts in their meanings and values unknowingly engage viewers in a journey of self-discovery, prompting the exploration and reconciliation of hitherto unnamed fears and desires in the layers of paint, glazes, shapes, and textures.

Eglė Norkutė, born in 1993, represents the emerging talent of her generation. In 2019, she earned her master’s degree in painting from the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Since 2016, she has participated in both local and international exhibitions, as well as international artists’ residencies, showcasing her works at contemporary art fairs. She has held several solo exhibitions. Amember of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association since 2019. A recipient of several awards and prizes in various art competitions, a finalist in the Young Painter Prize competition in 2018, and the winner of the special prize from The Rooster Gallery in 2019. Currently, Norkutė resides and creates in Porto, Portugal.

Opening hours: IV-VI 4.00–7.00 p.m., VII 2.00–5.00 p.m.

The Rooster Gallery’s events are kindly supported by Vilnius City Municipality.