AMSTERDAM.- On September 12, 2008 Deimantas Narkevičius was granted the Vincent Award 2008 (€ 50.000) at the hosting institution, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. For Lithuanian-born Narkevičius, whose film work and sculptures address the tenuous links between memory, Soviet history and his country’s future, this award signifies the growing visibility of East European narratives on a global platform. The upcoming solo exhibition by Deimantas Narkevičius, The Unanimous Life in Reina Sofia, Madrid (November, 2008), will be on show at the Van Abbemuseum from February to May 2009.
The Unanimous Life seeks to explore the poetics of national identity as displayed in sculptural and film works by Deimantas Narkevičius (1964, Utena, Lithuania). Ranging from earlier pieces such as Europe 54° 54’ – 25° 19’ (1997), shot using old Soviet film equipment, to newer works like Revisiting Solaris (2007), this selection of Narkevičius’s oeuvre lays bare the paradox inherent in a society’s collective memory and projections of themselves in future. The show’s curator Chus Martínez, chief curator of Macba Barcelona, states that despite its reportage nature, “it would be a mistake to describe Narkevičius’s work as documentary”. Rather it is the skilful synthesis of contemporary biographies layering historical footage that shows audiences how easy it is “to mythologise reality.”
Deimantas Narkevičius was educated at the Lithuanian State Art Institute and Vilinius Academy of Arts, Vilinius, Lithuania. Since 1992, he has displayed his work across the globe. In 2007 he was included in Skulptur Projekte Münster and his solo exhibition venues include Mucsarnok Kunsthalle, Budapest (2007) and Galerie Mot, Brussels (2003).
The Unanimous Life is a collaboration between Reina Sofia, Madrid; Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven; Kunsthalle Bern; Hessel Art Museum; Bard College, New York; National Gallery of Art, Vilnius. Curated by Chus Martínez (chief curator, Macba, Barcelona). The catalogue (English/Spanish) published in conjunction with the exhibition, contains essay contributions by Christa Blümlingern, Boris Buden, Chus Martinez, Gerald Raunig, and Dieter Roestraete.
The Vincent Award - The Vincent Award is an important biennial award to stimulate European artists whose work is highly relevant to the art of today. It aims at stimulating contemporary art in Europe and aims to be a means of communication and discussion within a free, united and peaceful Europe. For every edition five artists are nominated and invited to an exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. During the exhibition the winner will be announced and granted the prize fee of € 50.000.
