The exhibition “Ephemeral Impression” by Jūratė Jukštienė was held at the Vilnius Town Hall from March 1 to April 1, 2023.
Jūratė Jukštienė has become one with plants.
The artist on her work:
As the concept of sustainability gains prominence in society and people return to nurturing natural environments, eco themes increasingly manifest in various artistic projects.
By directly engaging with nature’s endless transformations, unpredictable nuances of light and atmosphere that touch the creator’s emotional and intellectual state, I seek to understand nature’s impact on the creator and on myself through the painter’s perspective. Immersed in the elements of nature and exploring the relationship between the painter and creation, I find an opportunity to paint directly from nature. A transformation occurs. Traditional paints – watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel – are replaced by plant materials: flowers, berries, leaves, mushrooms, etc. The relationship between the painter and nature shifts from observing nature to painting with nature itself. Nature becomes the central and most important element in the creation of paintings, returning to the origins and offering a new form of creativity.
This new artistic plasticity, the transformation of painting, and the emerging mysteries of novelty represent a changing narrative, utilizing one’s sensitivity, intuition, and experience. The fascination with nature’s diversity enchants the creative process. The imprint of crushed flowers on paper captivates completely. I learn to be silent when nature speaks. In the meadow, I gather my brushes and paints: flower petals. I take one of nature’s provided brushes and stroke it across a white sheet of paper. I twist, smear, and rub. Nature itself soaks into the paper, giving all of itself. By converting living creation into another medium, I choose to explore the imprint left by each plant on paper. This is my tribute to nature. This is how I experience nature’s spiritual prose. Each painting represents the face of a different plant. Painting with petals is intuitive, momentary, and unburdened by elaborate, deliberate, or structured compositions. The dimension of time also plays a role: how the work will change over time – contemplating this is almost impossible.
“Ephemeral Impression” is an ongoing artistic exploration that began in early 2021 with the blooming of the first flowers. Over this period, more than a hundred flowers native to Lithuania have been tested.
Photos – Vytas Nomadas
