Art-o-thlon
Tadas was a participant of the Art-o-thlon, a reality TV show broadcast on Lithuanian National Television. The show had 22 participants from different countries, divided into seven teams. After eight weeks of non-stop live broadcast work and seven weekly shows, Tadas’ team was victorious.
Introducing The Name, Die Kitsch'en Team.
All Projects, Die Kitsch'en team.
Ep. 1: Intro
Every participant is introduced to the audience. After dividing everyone into teams, the first brief given is to decorate the TV studio.
Introducing Tadas Maksimovas.
Full episode.
Ep. 2: Inspired by POP
To introduce the team, Die Kitsch'en tattoos the face of famous Lithuanian producer Egmontas Bzeskas onto a piece of meat and then invites him to have a taste of himself. Die Kitsch'en then covers Embankment Arch (the most hated sculpture in Lithuania) with famous newspapers.
Die Kitsch'en team.
Full episode.
Ep. 3: The History of Vilnius
Die Kitsch'en projects old propaganda movies from the Soviet era (the early 40s to the late 50s) inside the rebuilt Palace of the Grand Dukes.
Die Kitsch'en team.
Full episode.
Ep. 4: The Art of 100 Litas
Die Kitsch'en exchanges 100 Litas to Euro, then back to Litas, and then back to Euro. After 96 exchanges, the team is left with a single Euro cent.
Die Kitsch'en team.
Full episode.
Ep. 5: Untitled
All teams are allowed to create anything with no particular brief outlined. Die Kitsch'en recreates the statue of Lenin in Lukiskes Square but replaces Lenin with themselves.
Die Kitsch'en team.
Full episode.
Ep. 6: Food as Art
Die Kitsch'en creates a short film where the instructions on slaughtering an animal are read to a pig. The video is composed of footage shot from the inside of a human body.
Die Kitsch'en team.
Full episode.
Ep. 7: The Death of The Artist
Die Kitsch'en shows the documentary footage of how former Lithuanian celebrities, actors, performers are giving an oath after being selected to Seimas.
Die Kitsch'en team.
Full episode.
The Award
The winning team is funded to build any sculpture at the Park of Europe. Die Kitsch'en team proposes to build a proportional carcass of the demolished Twin Towers and cover it with the skin of an old soviet bus called Ikarus. The title of the sculpture is Drink Before & Smoke After.
Kind Words
"Mr. Maksimovas has a truly excelled at the Art-o-thlon — a key cultural event of Vilnius European Capital of Culture 2009 — not only becoming a rare favorite of both jury and the audience alike but also, subsequently winning the Grand Prix of this eight-week-long international championship of arts.
During the Art-o-thlon, Mr. Maksimovas demonstrated an extraordinary combination of skills, exhibiting a deep creative capacity and almost nonchalant flexibility when the situation required speedy adjustments. He has also revealed the ability — quite rare among the participating artists — not only to enjoy the limelight and full attention of media but also be able to use television as a good and fruitful artistic medium."
― Prof. Zilvinas Lilas, Author of the Art-o-thlon.