Morta Difartaitė: "My work of the last couple of years has a distinctly Soviet smell (a particularly sensitive topic in the current context). The latter can be understood here as a metaphor, and those with a good sense of smell might be able to sense it coming from the carpets that I sometimes use instead of canvas in my paintings. The Soviet era is one of the periods that seems relatively long gone, but its aftermath still lingers on in the form of artefacts, landscape, architecture, interiors, people's consciousness and their stories. This subject has been touched upon and explored in some depth by older generations of artists, but I am curious about the relationship of my generation, born in a free country, to this bygone era. When I paint, I choose the mode of expression and the colour palette intuitively - it is dictated by the motif itself. When I look at a photograph, it shines (or doesn't shine) in the colours it needs. So I have to admit - I surrender myself to the painting, it is at my command, to the extent that I allow myself to consciously communicate with it. The conversation on the surface of the canvas takes place in the depths of intuition and subconscious or involuntary recollection, and in the contemplation of the composition of the plastic image. I called the exhibition "Iris" - the name of a well-known candy that has a strong association with the Soviet era. Now it is just a sign - that time, like the candy, no longer exists, only the papers remain. And the taste in the memories of some. By the way, the toffee flower is a symbol of new beginnings." The Pamėnkalnio Gallery (Pamėnkalnio str. 1, Vilnius) will be open until 8 June.