Aušra Kaziliūnaitė: I never wanted to live in poverty 2013-07-30
A conversation about creation with the poet, author of two books and active participant of literature field Aušra Kaziliūnaitė is presented. The poet speaks about her liking to keep a kind of diary, to put down memories and preserve them in this way. Poetry for her is an opposite from the diary – poems never profess the flat truth of fact.
Nine decades of the White Villa: from the symbol of the city to ruins 2013-07-12
The idea of the White Villa, which was a centre of culture in the inter-war period, was turned to a multi-flat apartment house for a short period in Soviet years and was reborn as Kaukas restaurant later. The question whether it will crumble away along with the bricks of the building should get the answer soon – at least for the reason that the forlorn walls of the building will not be able to wait much longer.
What is left when everything is acceptable: contemporary blind pioneers 2013-07-01
The exhibition of Lithuanian photography of the second half of the 20th century “(Un)acceptable” was closed at Vilnius Prospekto Gallery a week ago. The author did not see the exhibition itself but it gave food for thought about acceptable and unacceptable photography then and now.
Hand on curtain 2013-06-25
The leader of the last, 93rd season of our theatres is Kaunas drama, for sure. This statement may be questioned subjectively but objective facts show that this is where events important for the entire system of our state theatres took place this season. The new performance “A Month in a Village”, by which the National Kaunas Drama Theatre announced the end of this historical season, is a suitable pretext for generalisations and thoughts about the latter creative cycle.
Thriller without crown 2013-06-21
The author of the article states that she expected a lot from the book of Gina Viliūnė “A Crown Without a King” (Karūna be karaliaus). It was presented as a historical thriller that reminds of foreign best-sellers and that untangles a Lithuanian story. Still, the book of G.Viliūnė “A Crown Without a King” does not shine so brightly.
About history in literature 2013-06-17
The participants of the discussion analyse the directions and tendencies of contemporary “historical prose”. Is the turn of literature to history necessary for the internally lazy society so that it does not forget lessons of history or is it only fashion the aim of which is to buy the reader by manipulating with painful themes?
School of sleep 2013-06-04
Theatre route in Kaunas: the National Kaunas Drama Theatre, Chamber Theatre, Small Theatre, Vytautas Magnus University Theatre and, if there is some wish and energy left, back to the National Theatre. We watch “A Month in a Village” of Valius Tertelis at the National Theatre, “The Miser or School of Lie” of Algimantas Pociūnas at the Chamber Theatre, “Reserve” of Alius Veverskis at the Small Theatre, “Intimacy” of Artūras Areima at VMU theatre.
The world according to Tomas Šinkariukas 2013-05-28
The writer Tomas Šinkariukas does not advertise himself in the press, does not organise pompous presentations of books and expresses bitter criticism about mass culture. Also, he asserts that art is of no use in general. Nonetheless, he writes. About his imagination – world of phantoms.
Life, love and death of festival LIFE 2013-05-21
20 years passed from the first international theatre festival LIFE on May 10. Actually, this phenomenon was born much earlier... The international Lithuanian theatre festival LIFE was established as a non-profit organisation on October 18, 1991 and stopped its existence as a public institution on May 1, 2001.
Literary Myth of Kaunas (Several Examples) 2013-05-10
Many cities of the world have some particular myths about their establishment: everybody knows the myths of Rome, Moscow, Constantinople, Krakow, Vilnius, Jerusalem and other cities. Still, there are cities that do not have their real legends of origin and are somehow “less sacred” due to this reason. Kaunas stands out in the graphic map of cities of the world by the very regular network of streets. The signs of Kaunas authority seem to be created artificially (when the city became the temporary capital of Lithuania in 1919) rather than placed down from the Sky.
On Painting, August Evening and Other Motifs 2013-05-07
The painting exhibition of Kaunas artist Elena Balsiukaitė-Brazdžiūnienė was open in Kaunas, old Žaliakalnis quarter, on the Owls’ Hill, at the Art School in April. The author and the curator, painter Arvydas Martinaitis formed the exhibition “Painting” from works of the earliest creative period. The collection of works created by the artist in 1991-1995 is displayed in Kaunas for the first time.
PHOTOGRAPHY OF PERIPHERY 2013-04-29
International recognition and attention of art professionals does not solve sensitive issues provoked by momentous works of R.Vikšraitis. Is it ethical to exhibit views of social degradation or unsuccessful personal lives in exhibition halls? How much is the life of R. Vikšraitis’ photographs real? What actual issues does foreign audience see in the works of the Lithuanian artist and why do specialists of photography estimate these photographs?
IDEAS OF SURVIVAL OF “GREEN” WOODEN ARCHITECTURE 2013-04-29
The tradition of wooden architecture is rather pronounced in many Lithuanian towns, to which suburbs full of wooden houses were attached. Now these suburbs have turned into unique quarters. Such examples may be found in Vilnius (Žvėrynas, Markučiai, Šnipiškės, Antakalnis), Kaunas (Vilijampolė, Panemunė, Žemieji Šančiai, Žaliakalnis); Druskininkai, Klaipėda and other resort towns stand out by original masterpieces of wooden architecture.
ABOUT THEATRE AND CRITIQUE: CRITICALLY (II) 2013-04-26
“The task of a critic is to analyse, no matter how drearily it may sound. Still, the analysis should not be narrow – all knowledge should be used for it as art is also born from analysis. Similarly to the creator who stages a performance and thinks what he wants to say, for what, how and why, the same questions should be answered by a critic in his/her critique."
CRITICISM OF THEATRE AND CRITIQUE: CRITICALLY (I) 2013-04-22
The author Viktorija Ivanova converses with people creating, observing and analysing the Lithuanian theatre processes – the philosopher, theologian Ervinas Koršunovas, theatre and cinema critic, reviewer of culture Vaidas Jauniškis, theatre critic Rasa Vasinauskaitė and director Agnius Jankevičius about the present situation of criticism in the society.
PLEASURES OF LISTENING IN THE FESTIVAL JAUNA MUZIKA OF THIS YEAR 2013-04-17
The annual festival Jauna Muzika dedicated to contemporary music took place in Vilnius on April 2–7. From the very beginning of its existence, when the festival had a subheading “e-music”, its biggest part was dedicated to electronic music. This tendency remains until now with some exceptions. The subheading was changed to the more abstract “sound gallery” several years ago. Jauna Muzika also presents a wide spectrum of contemporary academic music – it is very natural for an event organised by the Composers’ Union.
IT CANNOT BE WORSE THAN IN THEATRE. OR EXTRACTS FROM “CRUSADER’S” DIARY 2013-04-04
While the impressions are still hot and while the daily life has not yet washed the blood of the bad crusaders, while the warlike tales of the barbarians still heat the blood, the author presents extracts from his personal notebook in which work details of the evaluation committee of Golden Stage Crosses were registered.
I HAVE READ SOME POPULAR LITERATURE. I HAVE SINNED 2013-04-04
Decent people do not boast that they have read some popular literature. If they reveal it, they can defend themselves that they took the book from the library or from some dubious friends. Still, why do crowds of people read simple love novels or detective stories much more often than some deep and spiritual considerations about the place of a human-being in this world?
MARCH IN KAUNAS EXHIBITION HALLS 2013-03-26
As March comes to an end, one may notice in schedules of the city exhibitions that the majority of organisers prolonged the duration of expositions. It is an ambivalent phenomenon: other artists are waiting for their turn or perhaps they refuse and let the place to colleagues who have their shows already. Visitors are also allowed not to hurry – they may come another time and perhaps even bring friends to the visited exhibition.
JEAN COCTEAU: PEOPLE WANT ONLY WHAT HAS BEEN DONE 2013-03-22
Jean Cocteau (1889 – 1963) is a French writer, poet, director, artist who created costumes, stained-glass works, mosaics and who played jazz. J. Cocteau used to work as a boxing manager and ambulance driver. The artist understood at the end of his life that he did not realise himself and became a ceramicist. The interview with J.Cocteu taken by William Fifield for the publication “Paris Review” in 1964 revealing some moments of the life of the French writer and his attitudes is presented to readers in Lithuanian.
DAIVA ČEPAUSKAITĖ ABOUT ART, VEINS AND OTHER RELATIONS 2013-03-20
The poetess, playwright and actress Daiva Čepauskaitė is interviewed without any special occasion. She is asked about absurd things that had happened in her life, about the most beloved place in Kaunas, about the situation of culture and artists in the society today. “Nobody pushed artists away to the margins of the society. We have the same conditions to create and work like other members of our society. I never felt and feel like in a margin of the society. The situation of culture is not bad also. The funding of culture is poor but not the culture itself,” D.Čepauskaitė believes.
ABSTRACTION “1863” – REBELLION OF IMAGINATION 2013-03-18
Kaunas dance theatre Aura presented the project “1863” in the Big Hall of Kaunas National Drama Theatre on March 11 and directed the imagination of the spectator to Lithuania 150 years ago. The project consisted of two parts: the video film created by Mindaugas Arlinskas and the dance performance of the Hungarian choreographer Ferenc Feher. The film introduced the audience to the events and details of the rebellion of 1863.
“I WAS WRITTEN IN THIS WAY” 2013-03-12
The twelfth book of the live classic of art criticism, essayist, translator and poet Alfonsas Andriuškevičius “Through the Prism of A.A.” was published at the beginning of the year. True, part of the copyright of the book goes to the art critic of the younger generation Jolanta Marcišauskytė–Jurašienė as the book is in the form of a conversation: A.A. (Alfonsas Andriuškevičius) answers questions presented by Jolanta.
KAUNAS PUPPETS: AFTER SCROOGE OR TOWARDS THE SUN? 2013-03-06
There are not many Lithuanian theatres that can boast of performances after which spectators hurry to inform others, “You and your children should see it!” Kaunas State Puppet Theatre has such a performance in its repertoire. However, it is not the newest premiere of the theatre “Scrooge or the Day to Open One’s Heart” staged according to the play of Daiva Čepauskaitė (director Arvydas Lebeliūnas, artist Sergėjus Bocullo).
ALVYDAS LUKYS: “THE MAN IS OUTSIDE OF MARGINS OF AN ARTWORK” 2013-03-01
The retrospective exhibition “Steps” of Alvydas Lukys is open at Kaunas Photography Gallery. Milda Kiaušaitė conversed with the art photographer, lecturer, professor of Vilnius Academy of Arts during a coffee break while preparing for the exhibition.
ROCK PIONEERS RETURN 2013-02-11
The book “Lithuanian Rock Pioneers” written by the leader of the eclectic rock band Skylė Rokas Radzevičius is about the music style that has always been identified with freedom, challenge, creative searches and that can be called “conscience of the awakening humanity”.
CZECH HYBRID OF BUÑUEL AND DISNEY 2013-01-31
Once the Czech filmmaker Milos Forman created an interesting definition: if we added Walt Disney to Luis Buñuel, we would receive Jan Švankmajer. When Švankmajer speaks about his artistic authorities, he does not mention Disney, of course. He was rather inspired by Federic Fellini, Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud or, which is equally important, by the whole crowd of surrealists, first of all by the French poet André Breton and German artist Max Ernst.
SIDEWAYS ON THE ROAD TOWARDS THE PROMISED LAND 2013-01-30
The director Rolandas Atkočiūnas mixed all kinds of realism and tried to add some magic in his eccentric tragicomedy “Jerusalem”. The cooperation with the set designer Martins Vilkarsis, the director’s conception, all 613 wishes and 7 desires turned into the salad in the performance. It seems sometimes that the viewer needs a voodoo and “miraculous” mushrooms to tune into the performance and to be lead to the general conception.
CONSTANT VIEWS? CONVERSATION WITH PAINTER A. BARZDUKAITĖ–VAITKŪNIENĖ 2013-01-30
The painting exhibition of the artist Aušra Barzdukaitė-Vaitkūnienė “Constant Views” was open at the exposition hall Titanikas of Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts in January. Fragments of green city spaces, views of picnics in yards, motifs of merry-go-rounds or resort bars intertwine into one story in the showcased painting cycle. In the interview the painter A. Barzdukaitė–Vaitkūnienė tells about these motifs and why they seemed interesting to her.
FURTHER – DARKNESS? 2013-01-25
The idea of nationality is related with a rebellion in the drama. As for the performance “Cathedral”, the theme of an artist’s rebellion, no matter that it was unsuccessful, seems to be more perspective than that of the nation. The first rebels mentioned in the performance are artists. Their revolt against the suppression of Lithuania sounds like a rebellion against their patrons, fight for freedom of creation, despite the fact that they do not like to acknowledge their captivity.
LANDSCAPES OF (SUB)CONSCIOUSNESS OF AUGUSTAS VARKALIS 2013-01-23
If, after taking peyote, A.Huxley visited Kaunas Žalgiris Arena on the evening of January 18, where the painting exhibition “Landscape” of Eugenijus Varkulevičius-Varkalis was opened and the film of E. Striogaitė “August Varkalis” was shown, he would have scratched his head in astonishment. Unfortunately, A.Huxley was dead that evening.
PROFESSIONAL, HIGH-MINDED, STRICT 2012-11-14
The theatre critic, culture journalist, editor, translator, teacher and public activist Vida Savičiūnaitė died a year ago (she was born in Virsnis village, Anykščiai district on January 15, 1956 and died on November 17, 2011 in Kaunas, was buried in Viešintai Old Cemetery in the family grave). Memories of several people of culture who knew the late editor-in-chief of www.kamane.lt well are published in the article.
DECUMAN WAVE 2012-11-06
“Let’s Save Love” is the last performance directed by A. Jankevičius from the trilogy staged according to works of the Canadian writer Daniel Denis (“Song of Dir Diro” (“The Last Song of Durans”), 2009 and “Stone Ashes”, 2010). The loyalty to one author and the recognisable director’s style makes A. Jankevičius one of the most interesting young directors creating at Kaunas Drama Theatre.
B.SARAPIENĖ: “IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPERIMENT BUT IT IS NECESSARY TO PRESERVE TRADITIONS” 2012-10-26
Speaking about tradition and experiments, the artist B.Sarapienė tells that traditions are very dear to her and that she would not like them to disappear. “I believe experiments will end soon and we will return to classical things again. I love weaving tapestry, but there are no orders now. When the system changed, nobody wanted tapestries any more, everybody demanded something new and fresh…”
NEW ART AND OLD CONTEXT 2012-10-22
The history of a human-being is also art history. Art is a big and formidable power that has always been used by forces trying to make impact to the control of the world. It was always attempted to bind the most talented artists by privileges and to ensure their loyalty to their patrons in this way; then the art process could become controllable.
LEE JEFFRIES. HUMANITY THAT MAKES ONE STAY 2012-10-14
If only you could meet the people I have. See the things I have witnessed. I’ve walked some of the toughest streets around the world and have left screaming at the injustice. It motivates me to do more. My simple hope is that every time I take out my camera I am lucky enough to shoot a frame that ultimately has the power to influence. To change perceptions. To make the viewer care enough to want to know and do more.
FILM 'THE INVISIBLE FRONT' ABOUT LITHUANIAN PARTISAN RESISTANCE PRESENTED IN NEW YORK 2012-09-14
M. Johnston asserts that ‘The Invisible Front’ should help the world better understand why Lithuanians resisted the cruelty and deportations. V. Sruoginis wishes to activate the dialogue between the East and the West. J. Ohman underlines the aim to make the past of Lithuania and that invisible underground war finally visible.
LAND ART FESTIVAL AT RAUDONDVARIS MANOR: NATURE PLAYING TRICKS 2012-08-13
Works of land art invoke ambivalent emotions. On the one hand, they remind of a visit to an art gallery – one grows curious and tries to understand and interpret favourite works. On the other hand, one might feel uneasy and timid – a sudden appearance of such works somewhere in a forest or other natural surroundings arouses a scary feeling of nature playing an odd trick.
FRAGMENTS OF ART LIFE 2012-06-27
Tints of ecology at the Balta Gallery, a serious duet of artists at the Aukso Pjūvis Gallery, a retrospective dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of higher art education in Kaunas, illusions of virtual life by Jūratė Rekevičiūtė at the Meno Parkas Gallery, video art of twenty two artists at the same gallery, an exhibition of Arvydas Palevičius at Kaunas Artists House – these are several accents in the show panorama of Kaunas in June.
NONCOMMITTAL IMPRESSIONS FROM THEATRE LIFE OF KAUNAS (I) 2012-06-04
This text is dedicated to the theatrical life of Kaunas today: what kind of performances are shown, what kind of actors work, what latest passions and intrigues are, what kind of viewers visit theatre. Kaunas State Drama Theatre shows more than twenty performances a month. The major stage of the theatre has been reconstructed for a while now, so performances are shown in various chamber halls. Little rooms create the impression of a small theatre and its close relationship with viewers.
ABOUT THE SEA CIVILISATION 2012-05-15
M. K. Čiurlionis, who created a symphony poem ‘The Sea’ in 1903-7, found his chosen sea certainly magnificent. The newest performance of the same title based upon the symphony of Čiurlionis and created by the choreographer Birutė Letukaitė and Kaunas Aura Dance Theatre talks about the sea exhausted by people. The première was held at the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre and Kaunas Girstutis Culture Centre in May.
SUNNY WEEKEND OF JAZZ (III) 2012-05-02
L. Wright gave her songs some bright spirituality, warmth and religiosity without any ironical smile. Her performance combining rock classics, inner light of the singer, jazz sounds, some R&B, gospels, original compositions and a strong jazz vocal truly charmed the listeners.
WANDERING CIRCUS FOR ADULTS 2012-04-24
The performance ‘A Journey towards the Sun’ is to be premiered at Kaunas State Puppet Theatre on 27-28 May. It is a joint project ‘Between Lithuania and Sankt Petersburg’, supported by the Culture Fund of Lithuania. The international KukArt Puppet Theatre Festival also participates in the project as a partner. The author and director of the performance Boris Konstantinov, scenographer Viktor Antonov and composer Denis Shadrin are the winners of the Golden Mask and Golden Soffit awards (Russia).
WHEN ALICE GETS LOST AND JAMES BOND APPEARS 2012-03-21
This other side of the line is the house of Audronė Petrašiūnaitė and I have been living in her ‘Red Room’ for a week already. A soft, pastel light and inhabitants of this house charmed me as Alice in the Wonderland. Playful cats, a white lamb, wine glasses, inwrought tablecloths and lush plants live in the rooms full of colours and intimacy. The everyday is sacred here and does not have the sense of boredom so usual for modern society.
A RECIPE: MAKING MEANINGS IN THE EVERYDAY 2012-03-20
The textile artist Vita Gelūnienė’s tapestry ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn’ (2010-11) could be called a result of a monotonous work. The author chose a classical Gobelin weaving, which associates with a continuous interweaving of seams. A repetitive act becomes monotonous with clear links to the everyday. A colourful tapestry reveals domestic characters – a pregnant woman with slippers or a clockwork potbelly with a shopping bag.
WAS THE BEST ARTWORK OF THE YEAR REALLY SELECTED? 2012-02-23
Apparently, the most positive aspect of the show is a great number of its visitors and the democracy of the event. However, the way of organising the exhibition becomes a flaw in terms of quality. Maybe it is time for organisers to renew, for solid artists to wake up and for the young ones to strengthen their positions.
HOUSE OF PERKŪNAS: BETWEEN LEGENDS AND REALITY 2012-02-01
A beautiful legend increases the attractiveness of the House of Perkūnas. The statuette found in the 19th century gave a unique aura and name to the building. However, talking about cultural heritage a clear line between human imagination and real historical facts must be drawn. Cultural heritage is a living witness of the past: once spoken it does not require new tales to be created.
ARCHITECT R. J. PALYS: 'CULTURE HERITAGE IS NOT JUST MASONRY OR ARCHS – IT IS HUMAN RELATIONS, SPACES, HABITS, TRADITIONS, MEMORABLE PLACES' 2012-01-25
The architect Rimvydas Palys compares problems of Kaunas’ architectural heritage to a sick patient: solving every case separately is more important than diagnosing from books. It is relevant to evaluate the situation in terms of space and context, not laws only. In his opinion, the patient can be cured – good contemporary architecture would help more than attempts to recreate the mighty past.
