22nd June at 2 p.m. Nerijus Rimkus, a doctoral student in Design, will defend the art project „Neither“ (Design V 003) at sometimes daily bookshop (T. Ševčenkos 16i, Vilnius).
The exhibition "appendix," accompanying the defense, will be on view from June 22 (starting at 1:00 p.m.) through June 26, 2026, at the Sodas 2123 project space (21, 23 Vitebsko St., Vilnius).
The dissertation defence meeting will be held in Lithuanian.
Artistic Supervisor:
Prof. Audrius Klimas (Vilnius Academy of Arts, Visual Arts, Design V 003).
Research Supervisor:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lolita Jablonskienė (Vilnius Academy of Arts, Humanities, Art History and Theory H 003).
The Artistic Research Project will be defended at a public meeting of the Academic Board of Design at Vilnius Academy of Arts composed of the following members:
Chairperson:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rūta Mickienė (Vilnius Academy of Arts, Visual Arts, Design V 003).
Members:
Prof. Dr. Rasa Janulevičiūtė (Vilnius Academy of Arts, Humanities, Art History and Theory H 003),
Prof. Ott Kagovere (Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia), Visual Arts, Design V 003),
Prof. Aušra Lisauskienė (Lithuanian Design Association, Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI), Visual Arts, Design V 003),
Prof. Dr. Vytautas Michelkevičius (Vilnius Academy of Arts, Visual Arts, Fine Arts V 002; Humanities, Art History and Theory H 003; Social Sciences, Communication and Information S 008).
Abstract
Neither looks into the nature of graphic design, the complex identity of the designer, and the common misunderstandings that surround the profession. Rather than viewing graphic design as a mere commercial service or marketing tool, this research invites the reader to see it as an open territory for inquiry and a specific way of thinking—an attitude (attitude) that shows up both in theoretical arguments and through parallel design projects.
Guided by a methodology speaking nearby, the work intentionally avoids laying down rigid professional definitions or creating strict rules. Instead, the research looks at the discipline through the lens of Marcel Duchamp’s "infra-thin"—the practice of noticing and handling those tiny, almost invisible shifts in form, material limitations, and context. By exploring the historical path of Western modernism alongside the interrupted and fragmented history of Lithuanian design, the text breaks down how everyday language, physical printing conditions, and institutional relationships shape our visual culture.
By rejecting the standard, formulaic approach to "problem-solving," the investigation focuses instead on "problem-situating"—bringing underlying tensions, structural limits, and relationships to light. Grounded in specific contexts, non-linear in structure, and organized in a non-hierarchical, alphabetical order, the various elements within this practice build a new narrative: one where the designer acts as a co-author of meaning, offering a fresh design philosophy, alternative ways of teaching, and professional independence.
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Illustration: Nerijus Rimkus (Neither). Drawn by Šarūnė Nečiūnaitė, 2026
