Old things

Algimantas Švėgžda (1941–1996) always took an interest in old things, and established a special relationship with them which he revealed in his paintings and graphics. In his youth, he painted a number of figure compositions and portraits, although he portrayed people more like still-life objects. He painted the still-life Old things after studying in London. He returned to Vilnius full of impressions of British classic and Pop Art which he had admired in London museums. This stilllife was due to sell for hard currency in an international art saleroom in Moscow. The artist had to provide for a family of four, and payments from foreign customers were usually paid in vouchers that could be used for shopping in the hard currency shops which stocked goods that were unavailable to ordinary buyers. Fortunately, either the still-life was not sent to Moscow, or Švėgžda’s work did not appeal to foreigners. Consequently, it was returned to the sender, and ultimately found its way into the Ellex Valiunas collection.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album OBJECTS ON SHOW (2017). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė
© LATGA, Vilnius 2024

Algimantas Švėgžda (1941–1996) always took an interest in old things, and established a special relationship with them which he revealed in his paintings and graphics. In his youth, he painted a number of figure compositions and portraits, although he portrayed people more like still-life objects. He painted the still-life Old things after studying in London. He returned to Vilnius full of impressions of British classic and Pop Art which he had admired in London museums. This stilllife was due to sell for hard currency in an international art saleroom in Moscow. The artist had to provide for a family of four, and payments from foreign customers were usually paid in vouchers that could be used for shopping in the hard currency shops which stocked goods that were unavailable to ordinary buyers. Fortunately, either the still-life was not sent to Moscow, or Švėgžda’s work did not appeal to foreigners. Consequently, it was returned to the sender, and ultimately found its way into the Ellex Valiunas collection.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album OBJECTS ON SHOW (2017). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė
© LATGA, Vilnius 2024