"Rimaldas Viksraitis is a Lithuanian photographer who works in and around the villages where he lives, and photographs a way of life that is fast disappearing. In his world, any apparent dysfunctionality, propelled by liberal drinking of home brew, appears to be an asset because people seem to be having such a great time. He goes to parties, he sits and drinks and talks with his subjects. Their lives are not overcome by the gadgets of modern day life, which so often eradicate any meaningful communications between families. You can tell he is enjoying himself and at ease with his subjects. Viksraitis’s sitters also seem to enjoy taking off their clothes. I assume this helped by the home brew and rather warm temperatures, or perhaps they are all having frequent sex?
Against this backdrop, numerous animals seem to be part of daily life. They surreally pop up everywhere; they too seem to fit in effortlessly. They share the family's domesticity with the greatest of ease.
The resulting images, displayed (or published) here are slightly insane and wonderfully surreal. They are quite compelling, and if I spoke Lithuanian, I would love to join in the party. However as this will never happen, Viksraitis provides us with a ring side seat, with all the emotion, the drink and the ensuing madness."
-Martin Parr, November 2008
Exhibition presented by White Space Gallery (London) with the support of Three Shadows Photo Art Centre
Curated by Anya Stonelake and Martin Parr
www.whitespacegallery.co.uk
This exhibition was featured at the "Rencontres d’Arles" 2009, where Rimaldas Viskraitis won the Discovery Award.
Rimaldas Viksraitis was born in the Sintautai village, the Sakiai district, Lithuania, on March 19, 1954. He graduated from Vilnius Technical School No. 47, where he specialized in photography. For ten years he worked as a photographer in Sakiai. He has been a member of the Union of the Lithuanian Art Photographers since 1985. In 1997, the International Federation of Art Photography (FIAP) conferred the title Photoartist (AFIAP) on him. From 2000–2001 and 2003–2004, he was awarded a state stipend by the Ministry of Culture of the Lithuanian Republic.