Shota Kotake was born in Niigata, Japan 1988 and is currently based in Dublin, Ireland. Lithuanians were able to see his work in Vilnius at Now Japan festival 2016 and this will be his first visit to Kaunas.

 

Now Japan 2016 – Vilnius, Lithuania, featuring Toshiro Mifune and Gojira

‘This is actually my first ever official artist residency and that’s why I’m doing a short stay next week to get to know the area, breath in the air and explore around first. Pay attention to the details, document the moments (I’m into analog photography and this may take part for the final outcome), and most of all enjoy the stay. Then I will have a couple of weeks to develop ideas before the long residency, so hopefully I can do something meaningful to myself and Silainiai.’  4/9/2017

Shota Kotake will be resident in Šilainiai 14-17 September and in 2-18 October 2017.

Meeting with the artist at Šilainiai library (Baltų pr. 81, Kaunas) – 16 October 18:00.

UPDATE: During his residency Shota is using Šilainiai Library as his studio. He is drawing portraits of the local residents. Come and say hi! For more info, please call 862156879.

 

Šilainiai Project 2017 Artist residencies are partly financed by Lithuanian Culture Council.

Remember River Boyne, print on canvas, 2014

Svaras, 2016

Rūta Meilutytė, 2016

Baltadantas, 2017

Here are some images the artist took whilst visiting Kaunas and Šilainiai for the first time, using Konica C35EFD and 7 years expired Kodak Color 200 / 10 years expired Fuji Color 200 / Kodak Tri-X 400TX.

 

During his residency in Šilainiai Shota used the Šilainiai library as his studio and drew portraits of the locals.

At the end of his residency Shota Kotake has drawn more than 60 portraits, he displayed them in Šilainiai library and gave an artist talk during the event ‘Tea with the artist’. Each person, who participated in the drawing process received the original artwork.

Thank you to Gintarė Čiuplinskaitė for the translation at the event.

You may see Shota’s work at Šilainiai Project 2017 end of the year exhibition 24 November – 8 December at Gallery 101 at Muitinės g. 7, Kaunas. Opening evening 6pm 24 November, 2017.

 

For the artist process and the event images we thank Aira Zö Photography.

All artworks ©Shota Kotake