In spring, the CAC will open a new group exhibition, marking the beginning of the exhibition programme led by its newly appointed director, Valentinas Klimašauskas. Against the backdrop of intensifying polarisation in the world and in our own society, this predominantly figurative exhibition offers an expanded reflection on the encounter with the other. One of its central questions is: what forces still compel us to form connections amid growing polarisation, narcissism, hyper-connectivity, the commodification of relationships, multiple crises and wars? Is it still possible to establish a relationship with the other? Is it possible to construct a positive sense of self through the other – seeing them not only as an enemy or a friend? And if so, might this be one of the functions of contemporary art? And, most importantly in this context: how can we, despite everything, become friends?
VALENTINAS KLIMAŠAUSKAS – director of the Contemporary Art Centre (CAC), curator, and writer.
Among his major international projects are: the 1st Klaipėda Biennial ‘Sunset Every Two Years”’(2025); the Lithuanian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (co-curated with João Laia; artists: Pakui Hardware and Marija Teresė Rožanskaitė; Lithuanian National Museum of Art, 2024); the contemporary art festival ‘Coast Contemporary’ in the Lofoten Islands, Norway (2023); the 14th Baltic Triennial ‘The Endless Battle’ (co-curated with João Laia, CAC Vilnius, 2021); a choreographic project by Alexandra Pirici at the Ninth Fort Memorial in Kaunas (2020); and the Latvian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (co-curated with Inga Lāce; Daiga Grantina’s solo exhibition ‘Saules Suns’, 2019).
In 2024, Klimašauskas published his English-language book Telebodies. Bleeding Subtitles for Postrobotic Scenes (Mousse Publishing, Milan), based on his doctoral dissertation in art at Vilnius Academy of Arts. He is also the author of the books Daugiakampis (Six Chairs Books, Kaunas, 2018), Oh, My Darling and Other Texts (The Baltic Notebooks of Anthony Blunt, Vilnius, 2018), and Alfavilnius (Kitos Knygos, Vilnius, 2008).
His texts have been published in A Prior Magazine, As a Journal, Beyond, Cura, Dot Dot Dot, Flash Institut, Flash Art, Kim Docs, Kunstnernes Hus, Good Times & Nocturnal News, Šiaurės Atėnai, ŠMC Interview, Metropolis M, Mousse, Nero, Paletten, Spike, and others.