Almost the entire summer, even until 8th of August, a non-conventional exhibition by an Italian artist titled Giuseppe Zevola: Ex Libris will be on display at VU Library’s Franciszek Smuglewicz Hall.
This exhibition is another look at the old book as an object that in some way brings together the future and the past. Philosopher, poet, performer, creator, and painter Zevola became famous by reading mystical works by Giordano Bruno, and by preparing installations and exhibitions all over the world.
When introducing the exhibition, art critic and exhibition curator Dr Jolita Liškevičienė emphasised that it is a site-specific art exhibition and installation designed for this historic hall, and all of its elements become its integral part. The painter creates modern-world reflections in the continuity of history of time. Illustration fragments of the old books from Vilnius University Library collections are integrated in the collages created by the artist, and in their refelctions we can see not only frescos of the hall but also ourselves.
Giuseppe Zevola says that it is a great honour for him to present his works here. “It is already the second exhibition in Lithuania, and probably there will be the third one at the end of next year at M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art. Each year, they will invite one artist from various countries according to the FLUXUS conception, and I will be the first to represent Italy. I find all books and manuscripts very important. I have visited Vilnius University Library twice or three times, and I chose books in order to place my works next to them. All these books are from VU Library’s collections. It is my first exhibition of this type, although I have done something similar at the Bank of Naples. The environment of this hall feels very good to me”, the artist says. When opening the exhibition, he wished that it would spark curiosity.
When asked about the acquaintance and relations with the Italian artist, exhibition curator Dr Jolita Liškevičienė claims that it is her books that found this artist. Zevola had been a friend of Jonas Mekas for a long time, and, when visiting Vilnius, he found a book by Liškevičienė on the 17th-century book illustrations, and then they became acquainted thanks to Professor Arvydas Pacevičius. At some point, he saw F. Smuglewicz Hall, and he expressed his will to create an installation here. He found this environment very familiar, and he started to look for images of how this hall looked before. “Giuseppe Zevola has worked with old books. He was looking for remarks in the margins of archival books at the archive of the Bank of Naples, and published a book titled The Pleasures of Boredom. He presses his works on glossy surfaces, as this is how reflections are best created. His aim is that the frescos on the ceiling are seen through reflections when looking at his works. Therefore, the interior of the hall takes part in his works”, Dr Liškevičienė says.
The art critic emphasises that the artist is in favour of installations and the universe of the world where everything is interconnected. It is probably the first such intervention by a modern artist in Vilnius University Library; yet, it is closely related to the history and the structure of the building. “I am pleased that he takes images from the old prints, covers them with images from Naples or elsewhere, and other modern cultural artifacts, thus creating the artistic universe. Our books participate in the world created by him.”
According to Dr Liškevičienė, the exhibition not only conveys the past but also witnesses today’s close cultural, artistic, academic, and human bonds. The exhibition should bring joy rather than surprise.
When installing this exhibition, Sebastian Mekas, the son of Jonas Mekas and a close friend of the artist, was assisting Giuseppe Zevola and translating when necessary. He admitted that Zevola has been to Lithuania more times than him. The two men became good friends thanks to his father, and Sebastian sometimes helps the artist organise exhibitions.
At the exhibition opening, Dr. Marija Prokopčik, Director of the Information Services Department at VU Library, emphasized that this is not a conventional exhibition, although we can see documents from our collections. The idea to open the exhibition was born before the pandemic, but it had to be postponed. The exhibition is also dedicated to the 2500th anniversary of the city of Naples, and is included in the programme of events. Meanwhile, our Library celebrates its 455th anniversary. It is a symbolic dialogue of the two cultures. The Director is glad that not only VU Library, but also Vilnius Academy of Arts, the Embassy of Italy, and the Italian Culture Institute have contributed to the organisation of the exhibition.
N. Bulotaitė
2025-07-09