Vaclovas Ratas, Artist
By Tiiu Reissar

Vaclovas Ratas in 1934,
as a young 24-year-old artist.

Vaclovas Ratas with daughter
Ramona in Sydney, 1964.

Vaclovas Ratas, The Hunt, 1952
(Perth) Wood engraving, 14.5 x 14cm

Vaclovas Ratas, The Trees, 1953
(Perth) Wood engraving, 14.5 x 14cm
Thirty years have passed since the death of the internationally renowned Australian-Lithuanian graphic artist, Vaclovas Ratas, whose legacy is very much with us today. Vaclovas Rataiskis-Ratas was born on February 25, 1910 in Paseirė village, Lazdijai county, Lithuania. The Lithuanian Art Museum honoured the artist, by attaching a plaque, in 1999, to the house where he was born.

Vaclovas Ratas, Jurate and Kastytis (Mother)
1937 (Kaunas) Woodcut,10cm x 10cm
Ratas had three distinct creative periods. The first - his formative years, studies and subsequent success in Lithuania. His second - the period of exile in Germany and the third - of new beginnings in Australia.
Having shown exceptional talent for drawing from a young age, he enrolled in the Kaunas National Academy of Art, where he studied under the noted Professor Adomas Galdikas, from whom he acquired a broad outlook on art and skills of printmaking. Ratas graduated in 1935 and furthered his studies in Venice, Florence and Rome.
By 1933 Ratas had already made a name for himself in art circles having joined the groups "Art" and "Forma". After graduation he illustrated the book "Seku Seku Pasaką" and began participating in art exhibitions in Lithuania and beyond.
At the International Art Exhibition in Paris in 1937, Ratas was awarded the Prix d'Honeur for his woodcut illustrations of "Juratė and Kastytis", a ballad by the Lithuanian poet Maironis. The same year he took part in an international exhibition of lithographs and woodcuts in Chicago, USA. He achieved considerable recognition as one of the leading young graphic artists in Lithuania. His works were purchased by notable collectors and galleries in Europe and USA.

Vaclovas Ratas, Mimi, 1965 (Sydney)
Wood engraving, 12.5 x 18.5cm
Between 1937 and 1944, Ratas was a senior curator of art at Čiurlionis Gallery, of Vytautas Magnus Cultural Museum in Kaunas. Then the advancing Soviet front forced him to flee to Vienna with his family. After the war, moving to Augsburg, Germany, he became art editor of the newspaper Žiburiai and ran his own art school.
He participated in the International Graphic Arts and Book Exhibition in Belgium, the Netherlands, Paris and Germany. Ratas took part in publishing 40 Woodcuts (1946), Lithuanian Art in Exile (1948) and his woodcuts illustrated the book The Twelve Ravens (1949).
In 1949, Ratas and his family migrated to Australia, first to Perth then in 1954 to Sydney. He worked as designer-model maker at Darbyshire Pottery in Perth and Diana Pottery in Sydney. He enjoyed the challenges of pottery, and he produced exciting new forms and metallic glazes not seen in Australia before. Roger Butler, in the book The Europeans (National Gallery of Australia), writes, "The speed with which the emigre artist embraced Aboriginal art is astounding. Vaclovas Ratas who landed in Perth in 1949 produced woodcuts that incorporated Aboriginal motifs by the end of that year".

Vaclovas Ratas, Emu, 1970 (Sydney)
Colour Monotype, 48 cm x 48cm
Ratas' two major wood engraving exhibitions in Perth were in 1951 and 1953, featuring 21 West Australian images. Renowned for his graphic works in Europe, Ratas was now in a country where his art was not understood; where a "print" still meant a reproduction. The attitude to printmaking was the same in Sydney as in Perth, except that in Sydney Ratas was not alone. He joined the Contemporary Art Society and embarked on his new role as a pioneer. He gathered a group of printmakers who all saw the need to raise public awareness and understanding of their art. Ratas was the force behind the mounting of the First Australian Graphic Art Exhibition at David Jones Gallery in 1960. Artists from all states took part and money raised by NSW Lithuanians. This exhibition was the first of its kind in Australia, as many of the processes used had not previously been seen here. Amongst the most innovative works were Ratas' prints made from plaster blocks.
As a result of that exhibition the Sydney Printmakers Society was formed, initially with 24 members. Yearly exhibitions were held at Blaxland Gallery at the Grace Bros store. These became an important event of the Sydney Art Calendar. Ratas' past curatorial experience proved invaluable in assembling and presenting the works to their greatest advantage in each exhibition. The Printmakers attracted growing interest from the public, art collectors and critics. The society's activities and its membership continued to grow over the years, and activities now include cultural exchange exhibitions overseas. The legacy Ratas left to Australia in forming the Sydney Printmakers Society may even have surpassed all his expectations.

Vaclovas Ratas, Milk Factory, 1970 (Sydney)
Woodblock & metal collage print, 35 x 66.5cm
In 1962 he participated in Australian Travelling Exhibition, S-E Asia; 1963 Print Survey, Australia; 1966 Australian Prints Today, Washington D.C., USA; 1969 British International Print Biennale. 1967 he edited "Eleven Lithuanian Artists in Australia", while in 1970 he illustrated the book "The Mountain Devil" by Agnė Lukšytė. The Australian Fashion Design Award (Silver) was awarded to him in 1965.
Sadly, in 1966 Ratas was diagnosed with acute leukaemia and six months to live. His wife Regina, insisted he was not told of this "sentence". His daughter Ramona took leave of absence from touring with the Australian Ballet and took some of his work to America. There she mounted successful solo exhibitions on his behalf in New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Boston.
In the seven years of life until his death, his style became colourful and joyful. He developed a unique monotype technique with his fantasy turning to nature, the sun, sea, birds. He died on January 3,1973, in Telopea, Sydney.
Vaclovas Ratas is remembered as an artist of diverse talents, who excelled in traditional methods, was able to grasp new concepts and who constantly experimented with new techniques. He was a quiet man, very determined in his aims. He did not waste words or actions on trivia, but lived purposefully, never accepting defeat. Ratas' work is represented at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, major Australian State Art Galleries, Lithuanian Art Museum, Vilnius and Kaunas, as well as internationally.
The legacy of this great man, Vaclovas Ratas, is woven into the artistic fabric of Australia.


Other Links:
Virtual Museum. US - www.virtualmuseum.us/lith/ratas
National Gallery of Australia - www.australianprints.gov.au/Ausprints (Search NGA print collection for RATAS)

Tiiu Reissar is the former President of Sydney Printmakers Society (1986-93) and a member since 1982. Born in Estonia. she is a teacher of Printmaking and a TAFE Lecturer.

This article originally appeared in LITHUANIAN PAPERS, an annual 72-page journal, printed in Australia and published by the Lithuanian Studies Society at the University of Tasmania.

LITHUANIAN PAPERS is the leading English-language Lithuanian periodical in Australia and in the Southern Hemisphere. It is particularly suitable as a Christmas present for family members, neighbours, teachers, journalists and non-Lithuanian friends. Price: $7 including postage.

The journal may be ordered directly from: Lithuanian Papers, PO Box 777, Sandy Bay, Tas. 7006 (Australia).