20/10/2026–13/11/2026 Kristijonas Gurčinas's (Lithuania) exhibition "Klausykla" at the VAA galerry Artifex
“Klausykla” (en. “Confessional”) continues and transforms the themes first explored in Kristijonas Gurčinas’s painting exhibition “Fantasmagorija,” presented in the summer of 2026, which examined contemporary humans’ relationship with transcendence, images of death, and their echoes in pop culture. This time, these themes are transferred to a more intimate setting – the confessional. Unlike in a traditional church, the act of confession in the exhibition is visual rather than verbal, so it is unclear from which side of the confessional grille the works are being viewed. Here, mythological narratives, biblical characters, fairy-tale motifs, and video game icons converge in a single space – as profane as a worn-out chapel bench and as sacred as a midnight conversation on kitchen stools.
“Klausykla” is presented here as a paradox – in a traditionally intimate and sincere space, alongside sensitive openness, there also exists disbelief, insincerity, and sometimes even irony or performativity. Human frailties intertwine in the act of forgiveness and repentance: ranging from deep piety to doubt or scepticism.
Guiding the mind and gaze between one’s own sins and those of others, the artist presents seven paintings set in wooden frames created specifically for them, reminiscent of church furnishings or secret compartments. Yet these do not contain relics of saints, but rather fragments of the collective imagination prevalent today, shards of cultural memory, secrets, fears, and desires. In this way, the artist creates a unique mythology from imagery of diverse origins, speaking intimately of sin – an inescapable aspect of the human experience.
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Thanks to: Mykolas, Kristina, Gustė, Paulius, and other friends…
The exhibition is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture
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Kristijonas Gurčinas (b. 2001) is an emerging artist of the younger generation who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in painting in 2024 and a master’s degree in painting in 2026. Since 2020, he has participated in exhibitions and competitions and curated group exhibitions. “Klausykla” is his third solo exhibition. The artist’s work interweaves painting, objects, installation, and principles of archiving, allowing for an analysis of the relationship between personal memory, collective imagination, and cultural references.
The exhibition opening takes place on October 20th (Tuesday) at 6PM at the VDA "Artifex" textile gallery (Gaono St. 1, Vilnius).
