INTERNATIONAL WATERCOLOUR BIENNIAL
“BALTIC BRIDGES. Connections”
Kaunas, Lithuania
2012
“Baltic Bridges” is an international watercolor project which is being organized for the fourth
time in Lithuania and this year will take place in Kaunas. The biennial is set for artists of
various creative spheres. The objective of the project is: revealing the variety of watercolor’s
artistic thought, a lively and dynamic approach to the millenary experience of watercolor, seeking
for its original angle of form and meaning. We stimulate artists’ experiments on shape and their
authentic, modern look at the topic and content of artworks. We especially expect that artist will
innovatively use different materials and compositions, will create works of large or nontraditional format, as well as 3-dimensional and video artworks, installations. The most original
and creative works will harvest awards and special organizers’ prizes.
The project consists of several events: the main exhibition, the satellite group and personal
exhibitions, master classes of contemporary watercolor artists, international conference,
discussing modern trends of watercolor, current relations of other fields of art with watercolor
and meanings of them in daily life of artists.
Brief history and changes in the present time
The beginning of the project touches the year 1968, when Latvian artists started the tradition of
Baltic States’ watercolor triennials, which were held in Riga (Latvia). Participants of these
exhibitions represented their countries on the international stage every third year, having the
ability to share experiences of watercolor and to value achievements of their colleagues. The
exhibitions undoubtedly induced the progress of Baltic States’ watercolor and a positive
competition among watercolorists.
In 2006 the centre of watercolor’s traction was moved to Kaunas city: Lithuania started to
organize the event, giving a metaphoric title “Baltic Bridges” to the project. It was decided to
organize the exhibition every second year (status of biennial), aiming to reveal the discoveries of
watercolor more dynamically. The geographical limits have also expanded strongly – we invite
artists from all over the Baltic region to participate in the exhibition.
In 2008 the second biennial “Baltic Bridges. Displacements” was organized in Kaunas. There
was main exhibition in Kaunas Picture Gallery and there were more than 80 artists selected by
international jury to participate in this exhibition. Also 3 satellite group and personal exhibitions
were organized in other galleries and the conference, devoted to analyze matters of contemporary
watercolor.
The conception of the third watercolor biennial “Baltic Bridges” in 2010 was outlined by a notion
“depth”, which is one of the most relevant words in the language of art for defining watercolor
lightness, volatility, the optical illusion of movement, overflow of color stains.
We were looking for depth in the quality of watercolors and in the tectonics of their meanings.
We suggested avoid trivial or merely decorative values of self-defining works of watercolor.
There were about 80 artists participating in the main group and other group and personal
exhibitions. Participants arrived from 14 countries.
The conception of “Baltic Bridges 2012”. Connections
The conception of contest-selective exhibition of international watercolor biennial “Baltic
Bridges” this year is connections. Rising this concept we would like not only show to the public
the level of mastery of watercolorists through their individual connections between artistic
approach to the artwork and technique. We would like to encourage artists to think about all
possible relations / connections of watercolor technique with other fields of art, stimulate them to
create interactive, 3-dimensional, video compositions, installations, which may represent art
synthesis.
Connections is a notion in which we can find a wide range of meanings. According to the
dictionary explanation this means when someone or something is related to someone or
something else. But also we can find the meaning of connection in modern technologies as user
interface – a connection between two pieces of electronic equipment, or between a person and a
computer or a situation, way or place where two things come together and affect each other.
That’s why we expect that in the exhibition of “Baltic Bridges” this year we will be able to
represent some young artists, who are using modern techniques and technologies in their
artworks. All manifestations of individual connection / interface between artist and watercolor
are welcome.
We invite professional artists of all creative spheres to participate in the contest-selective
exhibition “Baltic Bridges” and show to the public their own artistic connection to the
watercolor.
Watercolorist
Eugenijus Nalevaika
Leader of project “Baltic Bridges”
INTERNATIONAL WATERCOLOUR BIENNIAL
“BALTIC BRIDGES. Connections”
Kaunas, Lithuania
2012
Time of project:
Places of project:
October – November, 2012.
Kaunas Picture Gallery of M. K. Ciurlionis National Art Museum,
K. Donelaičio g. 16, Kaunas
Kaunas Photography Gallery, Rotušės a. 1 / Vilniaus g. 2, Kaunas
Communication History Museum, Rotušės a. 19, Kaunas
Organizer:
Lithuanian Artists Association,
Leader of the project – watercolorist Eugenijus Nalevaika.
Address and contacts of project:
Rotuses a. 26, LT-44279 Kaunas, Lithuania
mob. phone +370 698 01667
e-mail: aqua@balticbridges.lt
www.balticbridges.lt
Conditions for participants:
1. We are waiting for Your applications till August 27, 2012. Your application must consist of:
 Entry form (which You may find below).
 Short artistic biography (CV)
 Portrait photo of the author
 Digital photos of artworks
optimal quality no less than 300 dpi, CMYK color,
the size of file not bigger than 5MB.
(Photos of selected artworks will be used in biennial’s catalogue).
2. You may offer up to 5 works; we desire that the side of work would be no less than 50 cm.
3. Year of creation of artworks – not earlier than 2008.
You may send Your applications by post (in such case write all the data into a CD):
Kaunas Department of Lithuanian Artists Association
International Watercolor Biennial
“Baltic Bridges 2012”
Rotuses a. 26, LT-44279 Kaunas, Lithuania
or by e-mail: aqua@balticbridges.lt
Other conditions:
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All the applicants will be informed by e-mail about the results of jury work till September
10, 2012.
Selected artworks will have to be sent by post (address above) till October 1, 2012.
Sending expenses will be paid by authors.
After exhibition artworks will be sent back to authors together with a catalogue for every
participant. Sending expenses will be paid by Lithuanian Artists Association.
Participation fee for selected artists is 30,-Euro per person (not per artwork).
INTERNATIONAL WATERCOLOUR BIENNIAL
“BALTIC BRIDGES. Connections”
Kaunas, Lithuania
2012
ENTRY FORM
I. ABOUT ARTIST:
Name, surname:
Date of birth:
Address:
Tel..:
E-mail:
II. ABOUT ARTWORK:
Title:
Technique, material:
Size (h × w cm):
Year of creation:
Comments on artwork (if You want):
If You apply with more than one artwork, please copy the item II and write down the information
about other artworks in the same order.