Aidas Jurkštas

I felt a passion for lighthouses in 1998, after establishing a Jūros Užeiga tavern company. I was collecting model lighthouses. Later, the collection was supplemented by postcards, stamps, coins, books... I realized that while living here, in Lithuania, I have to collect material on the lighthouses in the Baltic Sea: those that have been in the past and gone by, and those still existing. I wanted to organize, standardize the chaos of images, to shape it into a certain format. Unable to find a more appropriate solution, I decided to paint. Initially, these were lighthouses of Canada, Venezuela. Later on, lighthouses of the Baltic Sea. I “coped” with the lighthouses of Kaliningrad area, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia (Gulf of Finland). The field of my future interests is all of Russia, and Latin America. My thousandth painted lighthouse is on the way...

I was born in 1966, in the town of Šalčininkai (Lithuania). I grew up and lived in Vilnius. Since 1995, I mostly live in the Baltic seaside resort Palanga. I was learning. I studied journalism, philosophy, design and law. I graduated the studies of technical drawing, radio equipment, business management (The Open University, 2004). I established and managed Polidizainas advertising firm. Many years I spend in the orienteering sports.

I am grateful to my father, a Habilitated Doctor of History, Jonas Jurkštas (1929-2007) (photo), a researcher of Vilnius water bodies and Vilnius place names. Also to my uncle, a Habilitated Doctor of architecture Vytautas Jurkštas (1930-1984) (photo), a drafter of the Kaunas Old Town plan, and an author of the monograph Senamiesčių Regeneracija (Regeneration of old towns), an excellent architecture aquarelle painter, for their contribution in my understanding of the basics of science.
I was always fascinated by works of Leonardo da Vinci, Antoni Gaudi, Gustave Eiffel.

Farology (the science of lighthouses) long ago has become my everyday pastime, a favourite work. Pythagoras saw the beauty in mathematics. I see the beauty in lighthouses. Their beam leads ships to a safe harbour. This is a symbol of faith and hope. I feel respect for lighthouses – they radiate heat, noble silence, and dramatic sense.

Articles:

„Jūrų švyturiai kaip vaikai – negali išrinkti įdomiausio ir gražiausio..“

Adrenaline rush-seeker hooked on one-eyed guardians of the sea

More photos...