The Printmaking Process: Two Lithuanian Printmakers

Photo: Courtesy of the artists.

Eglë Vertelkatë and Birutë Zokaitytë are Lithuanian artists who combine traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques to explore gender, cultural, and social issues and identities. Their current exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center (CCC) through March 29th was organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Ciurlionis Lithuanian Gallery and with support from the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania.

Eglë and Birutë, both born and raised in Lithuania, met at the Vilnius Art Academy in Lithuania. Although they have participated in group exhibitions with one another over the years, their current show at the CCC is the first time they have exhibited together.

"I work with traditional printmaking techniques, such as etching, aquatint, deep etching, woodcuts, and combine them with digital prints, drawings, photo copy transfer prints, and collage. I consider myself to be a conceptual artist using printmaking techniques. I like to work with other artists' images -- Cindy Sherman, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Eadweard Muybridge, E.-J. Marey, and others. My focus is on subjects such as infinity and repetition (spinning, eating, running, working, walking, and so forth) and creating postmodern art with different interpretations of images and personalities. I work with themes that are interesting to me -- artists, nature, and cinema -- anywhere in the world, regardless of the culture, nation, race, or age." --Eglë Vertelkatë

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2006. A Target, Infinity In Dots.
Etching, stamp, 70 cm x 85 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2005.
Face Vs Face (Cindy Vs Cindy).
Etching, mixed media, 25 cm x 140 cm.
Courtesy of the artist.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2006. Horizon.
Mixed media on canvas, 55 cm x 120 cm.
Courtesy of the artist.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2006. I.D. Of Shell.
Digital print, mixed media, 60 cm x 220 cm.
Courtesy of the artist.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2005. Lilly Vs Wave.
Etching, aquatint, mixed media, 25 cm x 100 cm.
Courtesy of the artist.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2007.
Lithuanian Polifonic Folk Song.
Book A4, digital print.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2006.
Lithuanian Polifonic Folk Song II.
Etching, mixed media, 15 cm x 42 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2005-2006. Lux Life.
Etching, aquatint, 90 cm x 180 cm.
Courtesy of the artist.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2006. Swimming Woman.
Digital print on canvas, 80 cm x 150 cm.
Courtesy of the artist.

Eglë Vertelkatë. 2004.
When Cindy Sherman Reflected, Man Ray.
Digital print, mixed media, stamp, 20 cm x 50 cm.
Courtesy of the artist.

"My works for the show are from my most recent series, The Rituals of Women, depicting their social and cultural roles and identities. I work primarily with traditional techniques such as etching, aquatint, mezzotint, soft ground, and dry point, and combining those techniques with collage, stencil, and photo copy transfer prints. I am always inspired by my environment." -- Birutë Zokaitytë

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2000.
Beautiful man.
Soft ground, 40 cm x 40 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2003.
Map of the moon.
Soft ground, aquatint, 40 cm x 60 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2003. molecule of love.
Color etching, soft ground, aquatint, 80 cm x 50 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2000. Salomeja (2).
Soft ground, 40 cm x 40 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2000. Salomeja.
Soft ground, 50 cm x 70 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2008. The crew.
Soft ground, 62 cm x 62 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2002. The picture of the bedroom.
Color etching, soft ground, aquatint, 40 cm x 80 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2003. Trying to fly.
Color etching, aquatint, 40 cm x 60 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2003. Trying to fly (2).
Color etching, aquatint, 40 cm x 60 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.

Birutë Zokaitytë. 2009. Perfection.
Soft ground, 62 cm x 62 cm.
Courtesy of the artist. At CCC.