Today's Object of the Week is a moving series of images documenting the breakdown of centuries-old traditions.

His work is decades ahead of its time and an extraordinary act of bravery against powerful authority, revealing artistic experimentation and freedom against all the odds.

And now a new exhibition at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) documents the significant work of an artist-photographer on the demise of traditional village life in Lithuania before and after the break-up of the Soviet Union.

'Daily Rituals of Work and Play' is the first major exhibition in the UK of Lithuanian Rimaldas Vikšraitis.

Read more: How this mound of earth near Darlington helped decide the fate of County Durham

The exhibition spans almost 40 years of Viksraitis’ artistic practice – from early archival material and 8mm films through to 70 photographic works, many of which are being shown for the first time.

The photographs explore creativity and disability, challenge gender roles and explore Europe as seen from its eastern edge in Lithuania.

Many record the breakdown and loss of centuries-old traditions as the Soviet Union disintegrated between 1988 and 1991.

The Northern Echo: This image is titled 'Farmstead Dreams'This image is titled 'Farmstead Dreams' (Image: SUNDERLAND CULTURE)

Vikšraitis’ work focuses on the daily rituals that structure rural life and the traditional rural customs that mark the most significant communal events such as weddings, funerals and courtship rituals.

Vikšraitis won the Discovery Award 2009 at the Rencontres d'Arles for the photographic series Grimaces of the Weary Village.

Since the mid-1970s he has created a series of self-portraits exploring and challenging gender role-play in a way almost unparalleled in Eastern Europe.

The exhibition has been curated by the Lithuanian-born, Newcastle-based artist- photographer, researcher and independent curator Janina Sabaliauskaite.

She said: “I am feeling beyond excited for the opportunity to be working with Rimaldas, to have researched his archive to such a personal level and to bring a collection of his mostly previously unseen works to the UK - showing both documentary and constructed images, and portraying his curious eye for everyday, play and communities.”

The Northern Echo: This picture is titled 'Everyday Life'This picture is titled 'Everyday Life' (Image: SUNDERLAND CULTURE)

Rebecca Ball, chief executive of Sunderland Culture, said: “We are so pleased to have been able to work with Janina on this project to bring this significant collection to the UK. The photographs are both bold and intriguing and I hope visitors to NGCA will really enjoy the exhibition.”

Janina’s own exhibition, Sending Love, has already opened in NGCA’s Collection Space. Her first UK solo exhibition, 'Sending Love' is a heartfelt tribute to the transnational LGBTQ+ community and presents images from her personal archive.

Jonathan Weston, Curator at NGCA, added: “Showcasing portraits of close friends, Sending Love seeks to mobilise and make visible queer-feminist lives in the pursuit of solidarity, emancipation and positive social change.

"The exhibition celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and encourages dialogue about the fight for human rights both within Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom.”

Janina graduated from University of Sunderland with a degree in photography.

* Please note Sending Love and Daily Rituals include images of nudity and of a sexual nature and the exhibitions are not suitable for young audiences.

Daily Rituals of Work and Play – The Collective Life of a Village 1975-2012 is on at NGCA from October 1 to January 15 next year. Sending Love is also on until January 15. Both projects are supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

NGCA is based within National Glass Centre - access to both is free of charge and no booking is required.

For further information go to northerngalleryforcontemporaryart.org.uk or follow NGCA on social media @NGCAsunderland

Previous Objects:

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