Brigita Lastauskaite

Sea Song I

104 × 104 cm

Acrylic on canvas

Unsold

Suggested offer$1,800

About the work

My recent paintings are deeply inspired by the ocean. I am drawn to experiencing the sea and the land in tactile, hands-on ways, allowing my body and senses to fully engage with the natural world. Living by the beach on the Bayside gives me a unique and ongoing opportunity to explore the coastline and the underwater environment. The proximity to Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is especially significant to my practice; it is visually phenomenal and offers enough inspiration and painting material for a lifetime. I swim and snorkel daily, immersing myself in this environment, and I take underwater photographs and videos that later support my studio practice in St Kilda. I am captivated by the fluid nature of water—how it is constantly moving, adapting, and taking the path of least resistance. When I am underwater, I experience a sense of magic and aliveness that I rarely find anywhere else. The submerged world feels endlessly transformative: plants become moving creatures, while camouflaged fish disguise themselves as plants, sticks, rocks, and grasses. These constant shifts and visual ambiguities generate an unending stream of inspiration. The fluidity, movement, and flow of the underwater environment resonate deeply with my whole being. Nothing feels ordinary or stagnant there, and this sense of perpetual motion strongly satisfies my adventurous spirit. Every sense feels invigorated and refreshed, as though I am entering a secret world that dissolves barriers and opens pathways to insight and imagination. Diving below the surface of the water feels like a powerful metaphor for entering the subconscious. It mirrors an inward journey, exploring deeper emotional layers beneath the threshold of my conscious mind. The richness of colours, textures, and organic shapes I encounter underwater becomes deeply imprinted in my psyche. These impressions linger long after I leave the sea and spill out instinctively when I stand in front of a canvas. In this way, my paintings become a continuation of my time in the water—an extension of the experience rather than a depiction of it.

About the artist

Brigita Lastauskaite is a Lithuanian-born Australian artist, based in Melbourne since 1998. She is a finalist at the Mosman, Hutchings, Fisher’s Ghost, Blacktown & Omnia Art Awards and received the Art Residencies in Tasmania, Finland and Lithuania. She completed a Master of Fine Art at the Vilnius Art Academy in Lithuania and was a recipient of a scholarship at the International Summer Academy in Salzburg. Brigita has always been fascinated by the landscape, and organic forms and textures. Her paintings are not intended to replicate a scene, but rather evoke a feeling and a sense of place. Brigita’s paintings are visceral and relate to inward feeling rather than to intellect. Her painting process is spontaneous and raw, and her visual language features abstract textural shapes, rhythmical patterns, calligraphic marks, and unique colour combinations. Brigita’s fascination with the underwater world and snorkelling is evident in her art practice. Her unexpected seascapes appear in ever changing new ways, but organic textural marks that remind of a hand-woven tapestry remain distinct to her artistic style.

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