Couple in Vilnius

 

Among the notable things in Vilnius, the capitol of Lithuania,  are the spires and the architecture, featured in the background of this painting.  Lithuania is nominally a Roman Catholic country, with 75% of the population purportedly members.  However the statistics show that half the population does not believe in the Christian deity.  I have portrayed the irony of this apparent contradiction through the unusual placement and distortion of the spires, which serve at once to unite and divide the couple.

Couple in Vilnius, acrylics on paper, 11.7 x 16.5", A4 30 x 42 cm
Couple in Vilnius, acrylics on paper, 11.7 x 16.5″, A4 30 x 42 cm

 

Portrait of Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza, Russian journalist

Vladimir Kara-Murza

Twice poisoned journalist and opposition leader Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza.  Story below.

Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza activist journalist poisoned, acrylics on acrylic paper, 21 x 29.7 cm, 8.3″ x 11.7″

 

Vladimir Kara-Murza detail
Vladimir Kara-Murza detail
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza

 

 

He is a well known opposition activist who has faced life threatening conditions twice over the past several years resulting from apparent attempts to assassinate him by poisoning.  Close friend Boris Nemtsov, also an opposition leader, was shot and killed near the Kremlin in 2015.

 

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called on the Trump administration and new U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to “make Kara-Murza’s cause America’s cause,” to question Russian authorities on the incident and to “ultimately hold Putin accountable if he was targeted by the regime.”   Trump has not announced any action and given his unwilling to criticize Putin for anything at all he probably won’t do anything in response.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/03/russian-activist-felled-2015-suspected-poisoning-hospitalized-similar-symptoms/97437612/