Framed pain or gray memories | Vincas Kisarauskas painting exhibition

Vincas Kisarauskas was born in 1934 and died in 1988. His life essentially unfolded under Soviet occupation, never witnessing the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, for which he had strived throughout his life. Like all people of his generation, the artist’s childhood and youth were shaped by the brutal postwar period, Stalinist repressions, a brief thaw followed by a return to the repressive Soviet system, and later – years of bleak stagnation. Yet he was one of the few Lithuanian artists who reflected on these experiences and boldly expressed them through his work, and sometimes even by participating in real anti-Soviet demonstrations. Later, the artist was monitored for many years by the so-called “security” services. Despite this, V. Kisarauskas never abandoned not only his political views but also his attempt to grapple with the totalitarian system through his art.

Today, as the world once again feels the threats of totalitarianism and as a terrible war rages in Europe, I see precisely this in Vincas Kisarauskas’ work when preparing his exhibitions. This exhibition is not merely an illustration of the Soviet era – it is about the contemporary world, full of killings and betrayals. Sadly, art today often appears similarly.

The title of this exhibition is borrowed from one of his paintings, leaving the artist himself the right to name his exhibition.

Curator of the exhibition: Aistė Kisarauskaitė

Exhibition dates: 2 October 2025 – 26 October 2025

Venue: TUMO Gallery, Užupio St. 28, Vilnius
Opening hours:
Thu–Fri: 13:00 – 19:00
Sat–Sun: 12:00 – 18:00

Admission is free.

Exhibition sponsors:
UAB Serenus
UAB Open 24