Socialist humanism turns out to be a beautiful illusion, and a brilliant photographer turns out to be an officer of the power apparatus, who does not hesitate to live a prosperous and comfortable life. It is a gentle criticism, which does not however diminish the greatness of Sutkus as an artist.

 

The title of the retrospective exhibition in the Vilnius National Gallery emphasizes the position occupied by Antanas Sutkus on the Lithuanian art scene. It is a tribute to the master, whose life and work are presented by three curators. Gintaras Česonis, Thomas Schirmböck, Jean Marc Lacabe undertook the difficult task of dealing with the artist’s archive, with his myth, and with the powerful ego of the Sutkus.