G: Tell us about your art: What do you do? What did inspire you to start?
I can’t say that I create art at the moment, more that I try to show it to people, sharing with them great pieces of art. In my case, that is independent cinema. The main focus of all my projects is to bring people together who are interested in cinema. I’m trying to introduce independent cinema to people, and hopefully show them something new.
After the film screenings we have discussions about films, ideas, feelings that the film has evoked during show. I hope it’s a great way to learn a lot of new things, not just about cinema, but about yourself as well. For me, the goal of art (cinema) – unless of course it is aimed at the ‘consumer’, like a saleable commodity – is for the artist and those who engage with it, to question what man lives for – what is the meaning of his existence? To explore with people the reason for our appearance on this planet.
About four years ago, we had kind of tradition with friends (every Wednesday) to meet at the same place and watch some art house films. After the film we always had discussions. That was back home in Lithuania, and when I came here I tried to do something like that in London. So, I created my film night called independent view films, and now we’re in it’s the second year.
G: What is innovative about what you do?
Again, I am not trying to create something new at the moment, but who knows, one day… To create something absolutely new in London is very hard, you need to have completely new vision, we will see where it goes..
G: Tell us a bit more about your current project?
It was like thunder from a clear sky for me! A few weeks ago I went to the gallery to book it for another project, and Kevin (the gallery owner) and I spoke about Jim Jarmusch and his friend Jozef Van Wissen, who are friends that play in a band together. I said I’d love to organise a night with those two! It was more of a joke for me… a dream. Kevin said to contact Jozef about the possibility of playing in Hoxton Gallery next time he was in London, as you never know.
Anyway, I wrote him an email, and he quickly replied saying that he’d love to have the London premier of another recent project with director Domingo Garcia-Huidobro – Partir to Live – to which he will be playing his lute live on the 17th at Hoxton Gallery. It was amazing news.
As you know, Jarmusch has just realeased his new film Only Lovers Left Alive, and Jozef won an award for the score of Only Lovers Left Alive at the Cannes Film Festival. I’d not thought about showing an independent film with a live soundtrack performance, so this will be a great experience watching and listening to this performance. I’d like to think that the people who are going to come will get the experience of something new and unknown performed to them.
Partir to Live (Official Trailer) from Domingo García-Huidobro on Vimeo.
G: What were your most successful projects/exhibitions so far or what projects did you enjoy the most so far?
Very hard question. I consider all my projects successful I guess, in that I keep learning. Even if only a few people come in to have a look, I am very happy. Sometimes one viewer can be better than a hundred. In the end, you never know for sure if the film’s ideas connected to the audience or not.
The best project experience in London so far was the collaboration with painter Caio Locke at Hoxton Gallery. The idea was to link something cinematic to his works, bring them close to each other, and find links between the two. I tried to find a movie that reflects his art, and feel that Michelangelo Antonioni’s film Red Desert was the perfect reflection of his marvellous paintings.
G: Who/what are your favourite Artists/Businesses in the area?
In this area there are so many places where people are trying to do or build up something new and interesting. For me it’s impossible to pick a few of them, and say they are my favorites. Shoreditch is a great hub to be involved in.
G: What are your favourite places in Shoreditch?
In Shoreditch, you have lots of places to hang out. I don’t really have favourite ones. When I’m going out, or having dinner, I choose it completely randomly, so far so good…
G: What are your future plans?
I’ve just started to work on my first documentary film. The documentary will be about my friend, and independent film director, Borja Mucientes. I am really looking forward to working on this project. It’s my first experience writing a script, and trying to bring my thoughts to reality in this medium.
Social links:
Twitter: @IndieViewFilms
Website: independentviewfilms.com