Still Weather

The sea, its endless horizons, and immeasurable waters, ranging from dense grey to golden, are a subject of contemplation not only for those born and raised in Klaipėda. Although for many people living here, the sea is primarily associated with shipping and the port, Toma Šlimaitė’s approach is completely different. It is more typical of visitors who come here to see the sea, to draw strength from it, to experience its wildness or recover lost peace. Each time the sea is the same and yet different, no matter how many times you visit.

Like Klaipėda itself, the sea is multilayered, with a changeable character, containing many different components that closely interact with one another. On the other hand, it is the sea that sets the tone for the local weather and atmosphere. The true inhabitants of Klaipėda prefer to walk alone rather than in groups, enjoy long observation rather than chatter, and would readily exchange the scorching sun for a dreary sky. They are neither fishermen nor sailors (those are not the true inhabitants of this city). The true ones are people of the dense air and creaking sand, walking for miles along the shore, back and forth, seemingly without purpose: the melancholic people of the melancholic city.

For over ten years now, the sea has been Toma Šlimaitė’s main theme, consistently developed from one creative cycle to the next. It has perfectly suited the expression of the artist’s personal experiences – emotional and experiential swells. On the other hand, it allowed her mastery to shine – her refined drypoint technique, capturing the restraint and apathy that characterize the place.

In her latest exhibition, the artist moves beyond her usual drypoint approach. It is now accompanied by installations, expressive charcoal drawings, linocuts, and intricately painted paper with patterns reminiscent of the textures of the deep water. Each technique is used to express different atmospheric moods and personal connections with nature, from the complete disappearance of the wind and absolute silence to a stormy, deafening roar. The author does not always maintain a respect for the horizon. The deliberate choice to break away from traditional landscape conventions by fragmenting the image and zooming in on certain details emphasizes her unique approach. Taking advantage of another hallmark of printmaking, i.e. reproduction, she deliberately repeats a motif, further deepening the sense of rhythm and melancholy that flows through her work. And then her sea takes on a distinctive sound, revealing the author’s creative maturity and a growing sense of tranquility.

Art critic Danguolė Ruškienė

 

About the Author

Toma Šlimaitė (b. 1985 near Kupiškis) – an artist who creates prints, collages, and installations. From 2004 to 2008, she studied at the Vilnius Academy of Arts and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Art. In 2007, she studied at the Accademia Di Belle Arti Di Urbino (Italy) through the Erasmus program. In 2010, she completed her Master’s degree in Graphic Art at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. In 2011, she interned at the Helnaes Hojskole Art Studio (Denmark) and resided at the Klaipėda Culture Communication Center from 2020 to 2022. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association. She has participated in exhibitions since 2006, having organized over ten solo exhibitions and participated in 40 group exhibitions, projects, and more, both in Lithuania and abroad. She lives and works in Klaipėda.