On Sunday, April 28, the 100th anniversary of the birth of actor Donatas Banionis is celebrated. On this occasion, the foundation established by the actor’s family on April 30. at 5 p.m. will unveil the sculpture to Donat Banionis in Panevėžys, near the Juoz Miltinis Drama Theater.
The sculpture depicts an actor entering the theater. It is symbolic that the place of the sculpture is under the windows of the actor’s dressing room, among the trees planted by the actors themselves after the theater building was built. Behind the sculpture, a pedestal stretches like a well-traveled road, where Banionis’ most famous films and performances can be seen. “The inscriptions are not bright, something remains, something disappears from memory” – the idea is presented by Klaudijs Pūdymas, the author of the sculpture. “I tried to portray Donatas Banionis as a person, an actor who, lost in his thoughts, goes to work in the theater to create a role.”
The sculpture was created with the support of companies and individuals. “The sculpture was created in cooperation with the Cultural and Historical Memory Foundation, the sculpture was also supported by Antanas Trumpa, the companies Vilmarlita, PST, Forge, Panevėžys ROTARY club, Panprojektas, Panevėžys keliai, Stigma, Norveka, Lēvuos, Kovilis, Achatas, Kalnapilis-Tauro group, Viking Malt, as well as Mr. David Zavalkovski and Jonas Paslauskas, supported the companies Lagera, Dujotiekios statyba, Baltgina, Rir Prop House, Serpantinas, Saugima, Mrs. Irena Kubiliūnienė and other people of good will with slightly smaller amounts. Yes, there are really many sponsors, but every support encouraged us not to give up, to work, collect funds and implement this idea, to build a sculpture for the century”, says the actor’s granddaughter Inga Banionytė-Gedgaudienė, head of the foundation.
The name of Donat’s companion and supporter – his wife Onutė – is also hidden in the sculpture. And after stroking the sculpture’s hair, creative success will come. “We aimed for the sculpture to be simple, human, without pomp,” says director Raimundas Banionis. He thought of building the sculpture back in 2016. “Yes, it took us a while, but we’re really glad that Century was able to bring this idea to fruition.”
