Current issues in the photos of Romualdas Požerskis
Romualdas Požerskis (b. July 7, 1951, Vilnius) - Lithuanian photo artist, educator, professor, winner of the National Culture and Art Prize.
1957-1969 studied at Kaunas 8th secondary school. 1969-1975 studied at Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, Faculty of Electrical Engineering. 1975-1980 Methodist of the Lithuanian Branch of Photography Art, Kaunas Branch. Since 1976 Member of the Lithuanian Union of Photographers. 1980-1993 freelance photographer. 1993-2011 Lecturer, Department of Art History, Faculty of Arts, Vytautas Magnus University, since 2011. Professor in the Department of Contemporary Arts.
1964 started taking pictures with a camera donated by his father. Later, in 1973. with his fellow student Virgil Shonta organized an exhibition of photography works. 1974 began shooting for the series "Victories and Defeats", "Old Town" and "Retribution". A year later, he opened the first photography exhibition "Youth" at Kaunas Polytechnic Institute. 1977 Two major prizes have been awarded at the International Photography Festival, a competition for young photographers - photographers and spectators (Arles, France).
2015 June 9 R. Požerskis replied in an interview with Kauno diena, which asked what caused his interest in photography: “Probably this has happened historically. My uncle built bridges and took many photographs in Mongolia, Siberia, near Baikal. Father said he had brought many negatives. When everyone left home after the war, those negatives disappeared but remained a symbol. By the way, his uncle was shot dead by the Bolsheviks because he was told to blow up his bridge, and he refused to do so. Dad was a bit interested in photography, and I joined. At first I was filming and in seventh grade I attended a filming circle in the Trade Union House under the leadership of Česlovas Norvaiša. Then, during the third year of Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, I took pictures of the events following the burning of Rom Kalanta - I was thrown out, but a year later I was accepted. Then I realized that although I would graduate, I wouldn't be an engineer but a photographer. With peer Virgil Shonta in 1973 In December of 1974, we prepared an exhibition, and in 1974 we joined the Kaunas Chapter of Lithuanian Photo Artists. That's how I became a photographer."
The virtual exhibition “Current Issues in the Photographs of Romualdas Požerskis” consists of 34 photographs of R. Požerskis, reflecting both the everyday life of Soviet Lithuania and contemporary issues of today.
The text is based on R. Požerskis' personal file at the Library of the Lithuanian Union of Art Photographers and information published on the Internet.
