Meno Parkas Gallery is thrilled to announce the opening of Café Europe, an exhibition showcasing French and Spanish artists as part of the 18th International Vilnius Painting Triennial. This event is set to explore the dynamic and evolving nature of contemporary painting. The exhibition will open at the gallery (Rotušės a. 27, Kaunas) on September 5th at 4 PM.
Café Europe will feature works by two groups of artists: French artists from Gallery 4,BARBIER and artists from the Cultural District of L’Hospitalet in Spain. Each group brings its own approach to the theme of the Triennial, "I'm not here to be tolerated, I'm here to provoke you," emphasizing art's role and inspiring critical thought.
4,BARBIER artists, including M. D. Bidard, Sylvia Bottiau, Matthieu Capelier, Victorien Ezard, Grégoire Fabvre, Brigitte Horion, Elisabeth Krotoff, Christelle Teissedre, and Denis Vingt-Deux, have drawn on the philosophy of Igor Stravinsky: "Creation is the insult to habits." Their works break from the ordinary, questioning both their own creative processes and the expectations of their audience.
The L’Hospitalet artists – Xaro Castillo, Quico Estivill, Jorge Ferré, Agustín Fructuoso, Alex González, Silvia Pagliano, Federico Sancho, Diego Tampanelli, and Francesc Ylla – explore what is known as "expanded painting." Moving beyond traditional two-dimensional forms, these artists investigate the importance of manual skill in a medium that is constantly redefining itself in contemporary practice.
The exhibition will open as part of the broader program of the International Vilnius Painting Triennial. The Triennial, which this year extends its reach to Kaunas, features artists from 10 countries and will begin with an inaugural exhibition at the Kaunas Picture Gallery on September 5th at 7 PM.
