I have had a chance to exhibit my art books at the International Artist’s Book Triennial in Vilnius (Lithuania) twice before, in 2003 and 2006, and it was a real privilege to be a part of one of the best known art book projects in Europe. After nine years my work will be exhibited on “7th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2015″.
265 artists from 48 countries submitted about 600 exhibits to be juried. The jurors (prof. Joseph Johannes Visser/The Netherlands,
prof. Hanne Matthiesen/Denmark, dr. Vaidilute Brazauskaite-L./Lithuania and prof. Kestutis Vasiliunas/Lithuania) selected works from 77 artists who will show their work along with 35 invited artists.
As the theme of the Triennial is “Error” {Mistake}, I was thinking for some time what kind of error will be the most suitable. Error in writing, error in thinking, error of subject? Or an error according to the definition: ‘the state or condition of being wrong in conduct or judgement?’
I actually go for an error in creative writing process. The error that is inevitable, the error of searching for the expression, the error that makes all difference between good, bad, or so-so.
“The Masterpeace” is the title of my work, and it is immediately clear where it will go from there. Basically, I made a small notebook by imagined writer (or rather several writers) who tried to write a book. It is all about the Chapter I. How to start? Am I grow up to the task? Can I do it at all?
I pick the famous opening sentences from some of the best and most popular books in history. And I played with it. A. Camus started famously his book “The Stranger” with ‘Mother died today’. In my notebook, the first version was ‘Mother died yesterday’, but it’s corrected in handwriting.
Herman Melville’s ‘Moby Dick’ – ‘Call me Ishmael’, in my version shows, rather humorously, a bit of creative struggle: ‘Call me John Michael Sam Chad Tony Ishmael’.
Of course, there is a deliberate error in the title – instead of “The Masterpiece” we have “The Masterpeace”. I wished in funny way to show all creative struggle and sometimes an ignorance, even if we think that we are right.
The book is made in textile, with all text stitched with cotton thread.
Planned schedule for the exhibition in 2015/2016
2015 March 12–16, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany – confirmed;
2015 September 5–19, Vercelli, Italy – confirmed;
2015 October 22 – November 21, Gallery “Titanikas”, Vilnius, Lithuania – confirmed;
2016 Spring, Austria;
2016 July 30 – August 27, “The Cole Art Center”, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, U.S.A. – confirmed;
2016 Autumn, Australia.
