What does the art reveal about the national psyche? I took an art history course in college, and although at the time I was singing its praises, I realize now that its presentation of art was told from a very narrow and limited viewpoint. Every artist we studied was a white, Western European male, who was often long-ago deceased. There is SO much more to art than this. You can imagine my disappointment when I scurried over to each institution only to discover that they were both closed for two weeks as they swapped out pieces of their permanent collections.
Vytautas Kasiulis was born in , the same year that Lithuania declared its independence from the Russian Empire. He was part of the first generation to grow up both ethnically Lithuanian and with official Lithuanian citizenship.
After holding several post-graduate exhibitions in his homeland, he fled Lithuania in the early s, finally landing in Paris in From his new French home, he lived and worked in exile until Lithuania received its independence from the Soviet Union in the early s. The exhibition was a great success, extending several times. City government voted to refurbish the neoclassical Friends of Science building for this purpose and in the art museum was opened to the public.
Kasiulis mostly painted in bright, vibrant colors. In his earlier years, he drew inspiration from village life in rural Lithuania, but after his move to Paris he created brilliant tableaus of the bustling street scenes in the French capital. Dancers, musicians and artists were frequent subjects of his works. An artist painting a portrait of an artist painting a portrait often with the use of mirrors is a recurring theme. After a stomping of the feet and dramatic sigh, move on and make the most of your situation.
In , this motley crew declared their own tongue-in-cheek independence from Lithuania. A cabinet was formed; currency was created as was a passport stamp. One of the unique places to visit is the Constitution Wall, where the 38 articles and 3 mottos of the republic are posted in various languages. The constitution is a humorous and thought-provoking read and is the best way to comprehend the vibe of the neighborhood.
