Synopsis
An exploration on art and family, Retrospective contains two kinds of retrospectives. The first is that of my parents, internationally known interdisciplinary artists Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas' exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Lithuania. The preparation for the show reveals what it takes to put an exhibition together. My parents argue, forget to eat, go sleep deprived, and get sick while preparing for an opening. In this chaos, however, they also have creative breakthroughs and moments of pride.
The second retrospective is mine, reflecting on what it was like to grow up in a family of artists. My mom says that she always liked having no distinction between art and family. But what has been sacrificed for the sake of creative recognition? As my parents traveled a lot, my grandparents raised me. It seemed normal to me at the time, though I often felt lonely. By setting a high bar for themselves and their work, my parents set the same standard for me, making me constantly question, am I good enough? Loneliness and high expectations tinted my childhood.
Now, as I pursue a career in film industry and start thinking of having a family of my own, the question of what gets sacrificed for creative recognition has become especially relevant for me. How would I balance art and family? Through a mix of archives and reenactments I work my way through memory in order to connect with my parents, and to answer to myself, is art greater than life?
The second retrospective is mine, reflecting on what it was like to grow up in a family of artists. My mom says that she always liked having no distinction between art and family. But what has been sacrificed for the sake of creative recognition? As my parents traveled a lot, my grandparents raised me. It seemed normal to me at the time, though I often felt lonely. By setting a high bar for themselves and their work, my parents set the same standard for me, making me constantly question, am I good enough? Loneliness and high expectations tinted my childhood.
Now, as I pursue a career in film industry and start thinking of having a family of my own, the question of what gets sacrificed for creative recognition has become especially relevant for me. How would I balance art and family? Through a mix of archives and reenactments I work my way through memory in order to connect with my parents, and to answer to myself, is art greater than life?
Gallery
