Telesforas Valius: nuo Žemaitijos iki Žemaitijos

LT[...] T. Valiaus kūryboje dominuoja jautriai interpretuotos dramatiškos būties temos, iš kurių svarbiausios - žmogiškosios prigimties trapumas ir savojo krašto praradimo skausmas. Šio menininko kūryboje įtaigiai susijungė santūri žemaitiška rimtis bei Vakaruose įgyta spalvingos improvizacijos laisvė. Nepaisant T. Valiaus kūrybos originalumo ir reikšmingumo, jo meninis palikimas Lietuvoje dar mažai tyrinėtas. Kur kas plačiau jo veikla apžvelgta išeivijos spaudoje. 1984 m., jau po T. Valiaus mirties, Kanadoje pasirodė jo kūrybą reprezentuojantis didelės apimties albumas su išsamiu įvadiniu tekstu ir svarbiausių kūrinių reprodukcijomis, kurį parengė jo mokinys Romas Viesulas (tikr. Romualdas Veselauskas). Lietuvoje T. Valiaus kūrybą išsamiausiai išanalizavusi yra dailėtyrininkė Ingrida Korsakaitė. Ji jau yra pristačiusi dailininko kūrybinio kelio pradžią, daugeliu aspektų aptarusi jo kūrybos sąsajas su lietuvių egzilio poetais, parašiusi įtaigią pratarmę pirmajai T. Valiaus iliustruotos Juozo Tysliavos poemos „Tawa nouson“ publikacijai. Ankstyvąjį T. Valiaus kūrybos laikotarpį Lietuvos grafikos kontekste analitiškai išnagrinėjo dailėtyrininkė Giedrė Jankevičiūtė. Šios publikacijos tikslas - pasitelkus visus žinomus skelbtus ir naujai aptiktus dar nepublikuotus šaltinius atkurti T. Valiaus gyvenimo ir kūrybos kelią, apžvelgti dailininko meninio stiliaus raidą ir pokyčius, pateikti vaizdinę medžiagą, papildytą biografiniais dokumentais ir nuotraukomis iš dailininko giminių, Lietuvos dailės muziejaus (LDM) bei Lietuvos literatūros ir meno archyvo (LLMA) fondų. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Ekspresionizmas; Grafika; Graphic; Išeivija; Kanada; Telesforas Valius; Tradicija; Žemaitija (Samogitia); Canada; Emingration; Expressionism; Grafika; Graphic art; Samogitia; Telesforas Valius; Tradition.

ENTelesforas Valius (1914-1977) was an important figure in Lithuanian graphic art, developer of the distinctive and original style, author of wood and linen carvings, colored lithographs and monotypes. The artist's creative life extended between the two continents. Artist originated from Samogitia, studied in Kaunas Art School, however, the beginning of his successful career was interrupted by war. He moved to Austria, later to Germany, where in addition to creative work, he taught at Freiburg Arts and Crafts School. In 1950, Valius moved across the Atlantic and settled in Canada, where he quickly received recognition as an artist and educator. He was a member of several international art associations, awarded by many honorable prizes (gold and silver medals of Tomas Campanella Rome Academy, the Centenary Medal for his contribution to the Canada's culture, etc.). At the same time, he was an active Lithuanian community member in Canada, promoter of Lithuanian culture. T. Valius had a great knowledge of artwork of Samogitian folk masters, therefore he often chose themes from local history or folklore (prints ‘Samogotian Tales of the Devil’ (1938); ‘In the Times of Dionizas Poška’ (1939) ; ‘Easter Morning in Samogitia’ (1939). His connection with a folk art was very deep - harshness of a carving drawing, planar nature of the compositions, as well as the popular folk art technique (block printing). In the later works of T. Valius his expressionist manner was revealed.They have expressive drawing, drama of imagery, robust and sensitive carving, and balance of black-and-white areas (woodcut ‘Starvation’ (1940), art cycle ‘Tragedy in the Baltic Coast’ (1942). After Valius settled in Toronto, his creative language considerably changed, became more abstract. After visits to Paris (in 1956 and later) more improvisa- tional freedom, colors appeared in his creativity. Late artworks of Valius showed that spiritually he never lost touch with Lithuania. He always strengthened national feelings by friendship and cooperation with the most famous exile poets; they enriched artworks of Valius metaphorically poly-semantic ideas. Yearning of Samogitia, dramatic forced departure and despair of the complicated fate of the homeland reflected in his artwork (collection of color etchings and lithographs ‘Samogitia (1968-1973) and the collection of color lithographs ‘The Last Morning (1963-1977). Its art form is abstract, full of drama, with sharp contrasting color combinations. The last cycles of Valius ‘Samogitia’, ‘Anniversary of Vilnius’ (1973), ‘M.K. Čiurlionis’ (1975) implicates his relation with the homeland, its artistic expression inspired by Lithuanian tradition. Telesforas Valius died on the 1st of December 1977 in Toronto. In 2004, his remains were reburied in Telšiai cemetery. Exceptional artistic expression of Telesforas Valius consisted Kaunas Art School experience, anxiety of wartime refugee, newly discovered homeland Canada, modernistic spirit of Paris and a long from Samogitia to Samogitia. [From the publication]