The “Rebirth” exhibition of paintings by Dzūkija artist Onutė Skerniškienė was opened in the III Seimas Palace a week ago.
“I was invited by Seimas member Vytautas Bakas to organize an exhibition of my paintings in the Seimas, when he visited an exhibition of my work held at the Alytus College two years ago,” said O. Skerniškienė to “Dainavas hožija”.
The exhibition titled “Rebirth” features 42 paintings. According to the artist, everything from flowers to abstractions can be found in the paintings painted with various techniques.
“You see, politics and culture are side by side, it’s really inspiring, I’m glad that creators from Alytus are also presenting themselves in the Seimas”, while congratulating the author of the exhibition, Seimas member V. Bakas was happy that O. Skerniškienė’s work decorates the Seimas.
This is already the seventh exhibition in the artist’s career. O. Skerniškienė has organized author exhibitions in 2018 at Jurgis Kunčinas library in Alytus, in the gallery of the association “Dzūki region arts incubator”, Alytus college, in 2021 in the Druskininkai gallery “Studio”, in 2021-2022 for the second time in Alytus college a painting and ceramics exhibition, as well as in the gallery “Studio” and in the Alytus Regional History Museum.
“I participated in 15 joint exhibitions, including the exhibition “Teacher – for students, students – for the teacher” in the Alytus Local History Museum and the Seimas Palace. I like to try new techniques and genres. I have tried painting on silk, wood, I really like ceramics.
Painting is the refreshment of the soul. There is no greater fun than overcoming difficulties, climbing from one rung of success to another, and then setting new aspirations and seeing how they come true,” said the artist.
O. Skerniškienė was born and grew up in Einorai village, Nemunaitis ward, Alytus district. After school, he studied at the College of Economics in Kaunas, then worked in Pasvaly. Finally, he returned to his native village of Einorai, where he lives now. “Work has always been associated with numbers, but since childhood I liked to draw, growing up I was interested in art in my free time, I liked to visit exhibitions,” said dzūke. Eight years ago, O. Skerniškiene’s desire to draw awoke again. At first, the woman drew on her own, but very quickly realized that the help of professionals would help her immerse herself in the world of colors and shapes.
The artist learned her first watercolor strokes from the well-known watercolorist Benjamin Jenčiaus, and after becoming acquainted with watercolor, she learned to paint with acrylic and oil from the artist Vidmantas Jankauskas, whose lessons she has been attending for five years. During the past years, the artist’s house accumulated a lot of paintings, so she even set up her own painting gallery in a separate house.
“Painting is very important in my life, if a person has a favorite activity, then his life is undoubtedly happier, he has no time to grumble that something is wrong, that something hurts. I don’t have time and I don’t want to sit in front of the TV – real life is much more interesting”, said O. Skerniškienė.