Art critic about the departed artist Vaidotas Kvašis: a prophet who stood on the side of light | Culture

According to the art researcher, in his works V. Kvašys revealed himself as a talented storyteller who created both single works and huge cycles, mainly inspired by biblical plots, holy stories, symbols and metaphors of Christianity and various other cultures.

In a certain sense, his work is illustrative, but not primitively and directly, but very expressively and capably.

According to A. Dapkutė, this is perfectly revealed by more than one book prepared by him with other co-authors, in which V. Kvašis’s works are not direct illustrations of the texts, but equal in their load and content to the texts.

Among his most important books are “Bridges to Babylon”, “God is a Gift” and “The End of Tattoo Times” prepared with his long-time friend and creative partner Reverend Elijum Leyds. Also the album “I come as the king of mercy” and priest Kęstutis Dvareckos “The way of crucified love”.

However, V. Kvašys was not a traditional creator of religious art, because he interpreted Christian plots not only in traditional forms, but also with bold creative solutions, and he also passed on a very personal experience of faith through his own life.

“In his works, metanarratives intertwine with naive art, Christian symbols with surrealistic plots – all this becomes a unique and well-recognizable feature of V. Kvašis’s work in our art,” said A. Dapkutė.

According to the art researcher, the artist had mastered the engraving technique very well and created many excellent cycles and individual works. He also painted, worked with pastel and various other art techniques.

The art critic noted that one of the main principles of his work is juxtaposition of opposites.

“In his works, V. Kvašys reveals himself as a deep and subtle existentialist who talks about the light and dark nature of man. But at the same time as a mystic, witnessing the constant struggle between good and evil, divine and evil beginnings”, said A. Dapkutė, emphasizing that the artist himself treated both good and evil as an inseparable part of our reality.

“In his works, there is a very bright beginning of light and goodness, which always breaks through among ugliness, images of war and other, often repulsive, realities of our everyday life. In this sense, by carefully and consistently rethinking various life experiences in his work, V. Kvašys, like a biblical prophet, witnessed the final victory of good and himself stood on the side of light”, said the art researcher.

According to A. Dapkutė, although V. Kvašys has organized several exhibitions, he consciously did not participate in the life of art, distanced himself from the public, was not a conformist and materialist, but created quietly, calmly devoted to his own path.

“Belief was an integral part of his entire existence for him – he created as he lived, and he lived as he believed,” said the art critic.

Together with his wife, V. Kvašys raised nine children.

August 20 artist V. Kvašys is buried in Vilnius Antaviliai cemetery.