Viktorija Makauskaitė
Getting Feet Wet

On 22 April (Wednesday) at 5:30 pm, the solo exhibition Getting Feet Wet by Viktorija Makauskaitė opens at the Prospektas Gallery (Gedimino Ave. 43, Vilnius).

The artist’s first solo exhibition in Lithuania presents two series of works. In the introductory space, Makauskaitė shows black-and-white prints from the series The Fringes, while the main gallery space features Getting Feet Wet. The exhibition also includes artist’s books and zines created by V. Makauskaitė.

The Fringes

This series observes a former danchi plot in inner Tokyo – left empty for several years after the housing blocks were demolished, the old trees felled, and the site fenced off. Tall grass took over, and with it beetles, birds, and small animals. Workers would occasionally mow the grass, but it always returned. The fence confined but also protected this space from the city. Buildings rise fast in Tokyo – yet this grass seemed faster and stronger. Walking the fringes of the plot, the artist watched the meadow through the seasons: small flowers blooming in spring, thistles turning woody in autumn. Against the grass, the city's houses looked remarkably small.

Getting Feet Wet

This series began during the pandemic, when the neighborhood park became the only retreat. The artist grew particularly fond of it in bad weather – downpours, storms, rare Tokyo blizzards, sandstorms, and heatwaves – times when the environment seems to thicken, stir, and breathe, while everyone else seeks shelter indoors. Undeterred, she froze her hands, waded through snow, and got her feet wet. These discomforts opened new possibilities for seeing and hearing. Rather than framing careful compositions, she instinctively captured slippery, rustling, glistening textures, turning her lens toward ambiguous engineering structures, city birds, and cyclists darting past with coats billowing. Walking and observing this fluid, shimmering park environment became an active meditation – a release from intrusive thoughts.

About the Artist

Lithuanian architect and artist Viktorija Makauskaitė has been based in Tokyo since 2009. She works with photography, drawing, and text, often seeking their synthesis. Viktorija makes small-edition books, participates in Japanese art book fairs, and exhibits her work in Tokyo art spaces.

Her book Getting Feet Wet was shortlisted for the Author’s Book Award at the Les Rencontres d'Arles photography festival in 2025 and was shown in the festival's nominated book exhibition. Prospekto Gallery, Vilnius, presents the artist's first exhibition in Lithuania.

The exhibition runs until 23 May.

Opening hours of the Prospektas Gallery: Tuesday–Friday 12:00–18:00, Sunday 12:00–16:00.

The activities of the Lithuanian Photographers Association are funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Vilnius City Municipality.