Lithuania’s season in France 2024: in the reality of wars, it will invite to explore alternative ways of coexistence | Culture

The program of the project will consist of an exhibition, artist residency, film screening and discussion, and a performance. It presents the works of Baltic and foreign contemporary artists who were influenced by Marija Gimbutienė’s legacy. The exhibition in Marseille, at the gallery “La Traverse”, will open its doors on August 29.

“The proposition that humans can coexist harmoniously with each other and with all life forms is often dismissed as naïve. However, M.Gimbutienė’s statement that such a harmonious being existed before the patriarchy and that the patriarchy is “only 5,000 years old” is a vital perspective that requires attention,” says project curator J.Kostikovaitė.

Dainius Putin’s photo/”Me Two / We, The Clique”

The joint project of the creators of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, France and other countries is based on the statement of the American and Lithuanian scientist M.Gimbutienė that in the late Neolithic Mediterranean region there existed a peaceful and nature-worshipping matristic society, which was characterized by a developed sign language, ceramics and extensive trade networks. and at its center was a female goddess.

At the epicenter are feminist and ecological ideas

As J. Kostikovaitė points out, the cooperation of the creators presenting their work in the exhibition touches on the feminist myth of the founder of Marseille and looks for connections with the Koske cave, emphasizing the prehistoric quest for creativity and the exploration of alternative ways of coexistence.

La Traverse gallery, located in Marseille, near Malmousque beach, will exhibit various works of art extrapolating ecological, feminist and ritual themes, forming a cosmology of ideas, directly and indirectly reflecting the theories of Professor M.Gimbutienė.

“The exhibition emphasizes the matristic organization of a peaceful society and the worship of nature – the glorification of earth, sky and water as powerful life forces,” says J. Kostikovaitė, curator of the exhibition.

The ideas of the exhibition will be continued at the art fair

The ideas of the exhibition will take other forms and move to other spaces. Emilija Škarnulytė’s video works “Æqualia” and “Xirasia” will be shown during the “Art-O-Rama” art fair. E.Škarnulytė herself calls her works of art “goddesses”, in which she offers viewers a deep exploration of themes related to nature, femininity and spirituality.

The project will be crowned by the dance performance of Vilnius City Dance Theater “Low Air” (chor. Airida Gudaitė, director Jonas Tertelis) “Me Two / We, The Clique” (“Me Two / Savoj krupoj”), embodying hopeful actions for conflict resolution and inviting the audience to reflect on the power of unity and collective action in overcoming adversity.

The creators of Art-O-Rama will invite you to a viewing and discussion of E. Škarnulytė’s video works at the art fair in Marseille on September 1, and the audience will be able to see the dance performance of Vilnius City Dance Theater “Low Air” on November 5. at the contemporary art museum “Frac Sud – Cité de l’art contemporain”.