On the Cathedral Square – a week-long artistic campaign (program) – MadeinVilnius.lt

The independent contemporary dance art organization “Be kompanijos” is preparing to blow the wind of free thought into the Vilnius space for the third year in a row. This year, the week of artistic actions “MAS” has become the week of one long-term action, the idea of ​​which contains the huge pain created by today’s geopolitical events and which will leave long-term consequences. A group of voluntarily gathered artists on April 2-7 from 6 p.m. “Survivors” will stand in Vilnius Cathedral Square and invite to stand together for those who have experienced cruelty and carry the pain into the future.

“We feel an irrepressible obligation to express our support for the Palestinians living through the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. What words could we use for what is happening in these lands today, during the campaign we want to turn to people and humanity first of all. In the face of such brutality, we break down, experience a constant shock that cannot in any way compare to the unimaginable horror experienced when running from missiles, trying to save the lives of our loved ones, our children.

No less pain is the lingering trauma, alive in the bodies and minds of the survivors. In whatever words this time will be recorded in history, it is our duty to ourselves not to forget, to allow ourselves to turn a blind eye or ignore it. Humanity is what remains in our will and we cannot betray it. Our symbolic standing in front of the wind machines cannot in any way reproduce the experience of cruelty, hardly any artistic tool can be capable of that, but art is another lasting part of history, which we can talk about and help preserve the memory”, – the idea of ​​the campaign was presented by its organizer Agnietė. Lisičkinaitė and Greta Grinevičiūtė.

The weeks of artistic actions organized by “Be Kompanija” often deal with the theme of freedom. The very nature of “MAS” – artistic events presented in open spaces, promotes both the freedom of expression of creators and openness to all possible audiences: whether those who specifically attend the event or passers-by.

Last year, as many as seven performances were held at the event, which were organized by guests from abroad, Lithuanian artists working abroad and award-winning domestic creators. The themes and their resolution were so wide: from a cozy performance for one visitor reminiscent of a psychologist’s session (by Bush Hartsorn), to a performance on the theme of Russia’s war against Ukraine, when contemporary dance creator Erika Vizbaraitė hung under a bridge in front of a Kalashnikov for six hours (idea for the performance – Aira Naginevičiūtė).

Although, as the organizers say, this year’s week of artistic actions “MAS” did not receive funding from the municipality, without giving up they are already preparing for an even bigger event in 2025, believing in the importance of art to talk about topics relevant to society, to respond to the general discourse of this era and to expand the accessibility of art, bringing it out of usual exhibition, stage spaces.

On the Cathedral Square near the Gediminas monument

April 02 6:00 p.m. Agnietė Lisičkinaitė, Greta Grinevičiūtė and Evaldas Alekna

April 03 6:00 p.m. Beatriče Mažintaitė, Ugnė Lučauskaitė and Greta Grinevičiūtė

April 4 at 6:00 p.m. Inga Galinytė, Ieva Navickaitė and Agnietė Lisičkinaitė

April 5 6:00 p.m. Gabrielė Bagdonaitė, Elmyra Ragimova and Agnietė Lisičkinaitė

April 6 6:00 p.m. Dominyka Markevičiūtė, Lukas Karvelis and Alina Pilecka

April 07 6:00 p.m. Alina Pilecka, Ugnė Lučauskaitė and Beatriče Mažintaitė