Literate Birch In The University Yard

Watercolour artist. Born on 4 March 1928. He died on 18 August 2008 in a farmstead near Ignalina.

Looking at Kazys Abramavičius' watercolours, one would never wonder where this place is painted. We recognise what is our own at first sight. In his works, the author has talentedly encoded the notion of Lithuanianness, which is well understood by all, but much harder to define.

The Lithuanian nature depicted in the watercolours, painted in restrained, light, natural, warm colours, preserving the whiteness of the paper, which gives a special sense of light, is exactly the same as we remember when we are away and homesick. A little idealised, but full of peace, which is so well conveyed by the broad, flowing brushstrokes, the colours that flow into each other.

Perhaps the most beautiful feature of Abramavičius's watercolours is their lightness and sketchiness. The impression is that one has worked quickly, in haste, with rushed strokes, capturing the beauty of the moment.

From 1947 to 1954, he studied stained glass at the Lithuanian SSR State Art Institute (now Vilnius Academy of Arts).

From 1954 to 1957, he worked at the Kaunas Stepas Žukas Applied Art Technical School as deputy director for scientific affairs.

1960-1964 worked at the Ministry of Culture of the LSSR.

1964-1980 worked at the Lithuanian Art Museum (from 1964 Chief Research Fellow, from 1970 Head of the Painting and Sculpture Department, from 1974 Head of the Vilnius Picture Gallery).

Since 1957 he has participated in exhibitions in Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Germany. He has held solo exhibitions in Vilnius (1969, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1988, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2008), as well as in Riga, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Panevėžys, Alytus, Jurbarkas.

Since 1961, member of the Lithuanian Artists' Union, long-time head of the LDS Watercolour Section.

He compiled art publications, catalogues of watercolour exhibitions, wrote articles.

His works have been acquired by the Lithuanian Art Museum, the National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum, and the Latvian National Art Museum in Riga.