The Rooster Gallery cordially invites you to the exhibition “Haven” by painter Ieva Trinkūnaitė. The opening will take place on November 21 at 6 p.m. The exhibition will be on display at the gallery space (Šv. Brunono Bonifaco St. 12, Vilnius) until December 8.

Animals, now depicted alone or in pairs within landscapes, become the sole protagonists of the paintings—perching, standing, swimming, going about their daily activities. The elements of the human world that were more common in previous works are nearly absent here. Instead, the viewer is presented with a rarely seen, mysterious, and idyllic world of nature and its inhabitants, who do not hide.

In the canvases, nature is represented in a specific way, as though captured in frames from a carefully composed documentary film. The sense of directorial control creates a unique relationship with the objects depicted, bringing them closer, then distancing them, immersing them in cinematic unreality and highlighting related narratives. The artist observes nature from an ecological perspective, emphasizing the impact of humans on the environment, the climate crisis, and relationships between the species. Through animal portraits, she explores our own rituals. Her empathetic view of animals is expressed in emotive depictions that invite the viewer to empathize and share in common experiences. The animals’ gazes seem to catch the viewers’ eyes, seeking contact and connection—they are us, we are them.

Our attention is also drawn to the transformed natural environment. The usual green tones of nature are replaced by bright reds, a change in color that is not accidental. It signals that the environment is no longer as we typically see or imagine it, that the world we know is changing, affecting not only us but all other beings living within it. This may be an anxious hint about the fragility of nature, the irreversible human footprint on Earth. Yet, the very unease evokes not the scenarios of alternative futures for humanity’s salvation but rather the invitation to pause, observe carefully and sensitively, and, with great care, take a moment to enjoy and appreciate this cozy (temporary) refuge.

Ieva Trinkūnaitė (b. 1997) is an emerging artist representing the younger generation. After completing her studies in graphic arts at the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2020, she has focused on rotogravure printing techniques, mixed media drawing, and painting. Since 2018, Ieva has actively participated in group exhibitions both in Lithuania and internationally, and has held solo exhibitions in Lithuania and South Korea. Her works are part of collections at the Noewe Foundation, Sun Blanket Foundation, China Printing Museum, as well as in private collections.

Graphic designer: Eglė Kirlytė

The gallery’s visiting hours: Thursday to Saturday 16.00–19.00, Sunday 14.00–17.00.

The Rooster Gallery’s events are kindly supported by Lithuanian Council for Culture and Vilnius City Municipality, TopColor, Burbulio vyninė.