Not about the rain. Ní faoin mbáisteach. Ne apie lietų  

This is an international graphic art exhibition where reflections from different cultures, geographies, and artistic practices converge. The project aims to present the lesser-known yet richly layered Irish visual culture in Klaipėda and Lithuania, alongside the works of local artists from the Graphic Art Section of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association Klaipėda Branch (LDS KS). This marks the first step toward establishing long-term collaboration with Graphic Studio Dublin – one of the most significant printmaking studios in Dublin. It was the first in Ireland to offer training in traditional printmaking techniques. The studio has played a crucial role in preserving and developing traditional graphic art, and currently, it has over 90 member artists. The studio not only provides the necessary equipment and space for printmaking but also runs educational programs and projects with invited artists. Artists there work with etching, lithography, linocut, woodcut, drypoint, and other techniques. However, their work is not limited to traditional methods – they also experiment with installations, sculptures, and video art. In their personal practices, various printmaking techniques intertwine with other modes of expression in innovative ways, resulting in unique techniques and original artistic language. The studio’s members regularly participate in creative residencies abroad and have accumulated a wealth of professional knowledge, which they are happy to share with the LAA Klaipėda Branch artists and the local community. 

 

In this exhibition presented in Klaipėda, Irish artists showcase works created using a broad spectrum of printmaking techniques – from etching, aquatint, lithography, mokuhanga, carborundum, mezzotint, silkscreen, monotype, and photopolymer to individual, uniquely developed methods of expression. Ireland has deep-rooted traditions in the field of printmaking – techniques such as etching and aquatint have evolved there from black-and-white imagery into color-rich variations through increasingly sophisticated processes. The exhibition features both newly created and previously made works by Irish artists, while most of the artists from the Graphic Art Section of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association Klaipėda Branch are presenting works created specifically for this exhibition. This curatorial decision was intended to reveal a fresh, previously unseen layer of Klaipėda-based creative production to the public. Although the guest artists from Ireland largely rely on mastery of classical techniques, the works by Klaipėda-based artists are characterized by distinct, authorial methods where printmaking remains a central element of artistic practice, but not its only means of expression. The selection of artists was based on the variety of techniques they employ and the originality of their interpretation of the theme. Since this joint exhibition of printmakers from Dublin and Klaipėda is taking place in Lithuania, particular attention has been given to techniques that, while still relatively unfamiliar in the Lithuanian art context, hold significant artistic value. Some of the participating artists are already well established in their home countries and on the international art scene, while others are younger, actively developing their practice and entering the professional field of printmaking. This exhibition is not only a showcase of works but also a platform for professional dialogue, knowledge exchange, and creative insights among artists from diverse geographic and experiential backgrounds. 

 

The exhibition theme “Not About the Rain” is an invitation to talk not only about what connects us, but more so about what makes us unique and how we experience our identities in Klaipėda (Lithuania) and Dublin (Ireland). The exhibition aims to reflect on the differences between two nations, cities, cultural spheres, and individual creators, while subtly touching upon the cultural homogenization characteristic of today’s world. There is a growing understanding that external influences are not necessarily threatening – they can be enriching. However, for smaller nations, the ability to maintain an authentic voice and identity is becoming an increasingly significant challenge. This exhibition is about tradition and change, about what is relevant and meaningful today in both Dublin and Klaipėda. Another important aspect of the theme is printmaking itself: its traditional, fading, yet still nurtured techniques, as well as the blending of diverse cultural experiences within printmaking practices. The exhibition invites us to share historical experiences, to seek points of contact and differences that reveal the uniqueness of each artist, each city – Klaipėda and Dublin – and each country – Lithuania and Ireland.                                                                                                                                                           

 

Exhibition curators – Danguolė Ruškienė, Vaida Varnagienė   

Exhibition architect – Vladas Balsys   

Project coordinator – Simona Agota Martinkus   

Project publicity specialist – Rosana Lukauskaitė   

 

Participating artists: 

(IE) Niamh McGuinne, Michele Hetherington, Kate McDonagh, Robert Russell, Ailbhe Barrett, Noelle O’Keeffe, Niamh Flanagan, Maria Atanacković, Michael Timmins, Daniel Lipstein, Rachel Naughton, Helen O’Sullivan.  

(LT) Vaidė Gaudiešiūtė, Toma Šlimaitė, Anatolijus Klemencovas, Žaneta Jasaitytė-Bessonova, Laura Guokė, Augustinas Virgilijus Burba, Inga Šmitienė, Gražina Oškinytė-Eimanavičienė, Roma Auškalnytė, Alfonsas Lekavičius. 

 

The exhibition is organised by the Klaipėda Artists’ Fund, the Lithuanian Artists’ Association Klaipėda Branch, and the Graphic Studio Dublin 

The project is funded by the Klaipėda City Municipality and the Irish state agency “Culture Ireland” 

Partner – Klaipėda Culture Communication Center