Augustas Serapinas, a 28-year-old Lithuanian artist, is the youngest participant in the main exhibition of the 2019 Venice Biennale, curated by Ralph Rugoff. Known for site-specific, interactive works that blur public and private space, Serapinas creates installations like a functioning sauna and snowmen rescued from playgrounds. He famously hosts studio visits inside a drainage pipe along the Vilnia River, a practice that impressed Rugoff and other curators. Serapinas's work challenges traditional studio and exhibition formats, engaging audiences beyond the gallery.
Serapinas's inclusion in the Biennale's main show, "May You Live in Interesting Times," signals a shift toward art that occupies interstitial spaces—both literal and conceptual. As the youngest artist in the exhibition, he represents a new generation of artists who prioritize immersive, relational experiences over static objects. His success highlights the growing influence of Eastern European artists on the global stage and underscores the Biennale's role in spotlighting emerging talent that redefines contemporary art practices.