{"id":122343,"date":"2022-12-07T14:08:16","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T14:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kaunas2022.eu\/?p=122343"},"modified":"2022-12-07T14:09:20","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T14:09:20","slug":"kaunas-2022-closing-weekend-kaunas-is-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kaunas2022.eu\/en\/2022\/12\/07\/kaunas-2022-closing-weekend-kaunas-is-forever\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cKaunas 2022\u201d Closing Weekend: Kaunas is Forever"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Contract show by Martynas Plepys<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The results of the last official weekend of Kaunas as the European Capital of Culture can be counted in dozens, hundreds and thousands. The intersecting routes of events and happenings, the collecting of the stamps of the Kaunas Beast game and the sharing of promises to take care of yourself and the city, the handshakes and hugs, the shining eyes and the lights of the phones, the final chords of the \u201cContract\u201d at \u017dalgirio Arena – Kaunas and Kaunas district were flooded with the hope that after a spectacular year-long programme, the positive, motivating and nurturing relationship with oneself and one\u2019s environment, in which culture is the key element, will not vanish.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Europe\u2019s focus on Kaunas<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMany think that culture is just for fun. However, it is the foundation of our society and soul, an integral part of life. I personally believe that the European Capitals of Culture tradition is one of Europe\u2019s most successful programmes, creating a sustainable positive effect. Culture teaches, transforms, gives hope and perspective, inspires unity and solidarity,\u201d Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday morning. Together with the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and Ukraine\u2019s president Volodymyr Zelensky, who joined online, he opened the international symposium \u201cThe Idea of Europe\u201d. The gathering of intellectuals – academics and practitioners – at Vytautas Magnus University was the most solid event of the \u201cContract\u201d weekend. Its weight and depth of debate proved the importance of one of the continent\u2019s smallest countries and the city that has this year been awarded the most important title in its life and has withstood global challenges with the title\u2019s help.<\/p>\n

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Sympozium “The Idea of Europe” by Gra\u017evydas Jovai\u0161a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nurturing Sounds of Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the Lithuanian Youth Jazz Orchestra\u2019s resounding debut concert and a bouquet of Yiddish songs at the Kaunas Artists\u2019 House, the choral and experimental music event Deserts in the mysterious Kaunas Waters Reservoir, the tabalai<\/em> experiment in the garden of the War Museum, the avant-garde electronic performances at the Daina cinema, and the nightclub Lizdas – music lovers were spoilt for choice throughout the European Capital of Culture\u2019s extended finishing weekend.\u00a0 An impressive concert was also held in the Kaunas district – on Friday, Raudondvaris was turned into an open-air dance floor by the performer \u201cTen Walls\u201d.<\/p>\n

Of course, the most impressive sound fabric was created on Saturday evening at \u017dalgirio Arena – \u201cContract\u201d, written by composer Zita Bru\u017eait\u0117 for the occasion, was performed by singers Jeronimas Milius and Monika Ple\u0161kyt\u0117, Kaunas Big Band, Kaunas Wind Orchestra \u201c\u0104\u017euolynas\u201d, Giunter Percussion and others, conducted by the talented Ri\u010dardas \u0160umila. The combined forces of dancers led by Petras Lisauskas, including Nuepiko, ULNA, and \u0160eiko Dance Company, as well as emerging talents, created magic for nearly 9,000 spectators.<\/p>\n

The \u201cContract\u201d was created by: author of the artistic concept and composer Zita Bru\u017eait\u0117, librettist Daiva \u010cepauskait\u0117, director Gediminas \u0160eduikis, set designer Sigita \u0160imk\u016bnait\u0117, costume designer Sandra Straukait\u0117, choreographer Agnija \u0160eiko, head of the choir Danguol\u0117 Beinaryt\u0117, lighting designer Andrius Stasiulis, conductor Ri\u010dardas \u0160umila.<\/p>\n

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Official closing ceremony in Kaunas district by Gra\u017evydas Jovai\u0161a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Opening and Closing of Exhibitions\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u201cContract\u201d weekend saw the opening of a bunch of exhibitions that will continue to welcome visitors. Ultrasocial Pos by the colourful Polish- Luxembourger Filip Markiewicz is open until New Year\u2019s Day at the Meno Parkas gallery and, in the neighbourhood of the latter, the Kaunas Photography Gallery it\u2019s a must to see an excerpt from The Family of Man, an exhibition presenting the origins of humanist photography that has travelled the world. The Lithuanian Artists\u2019 Union gallery Drob\u0117 invited the spectators to look at the fake news from the artists\u2019 point of view in the former textile factory in \u0160an\u010diai. The photography exhibition \u201cHiding Places of the Mythical Beast\u201d, which revealed the basements and dungeons of modernist buildings on Vienyb\u0117s Square, promises to attract the attention of the curious throughout the festive period, most effectively after dark.<\/p>\n

The attendance records were also broken by Yoko Ono\u2019s exhibition \u201cThe Learning Garden of Freedom\u201d at the Kaunas Picture Gallery, the contemporary art triennial UKRAINE! UNMUTED at Kaunas Central Post Office and William Kentridge\u2019s \u201cThat Which We Do Not Remember\u201d at the National M. K. \u010ciurlionis Art Museum. The international shows, all counting their last days, were explored by both individual guests and guided tours. Meanwhile, Kaunas Modern Art Foundation offered an exclusive itinerary to places important to artists who worked in the city.<\/p>\n

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UKRAINE! UNMUTED exhibition by Gra\u017evydas Jovai\u0161a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Installations Dispelling the Darkness<\/strong><\/p>\n

The impressions of the \u201cContract\u201d weekend, which were all over the social networks, were very often filled with art installations in both Kaunas and the Kaunas district. From the city centre, where many cultural institutions and other buildings came together for one spectacular light spectacle, to a narrow street in the Old Town, transformed into an artistic \u201cArtery\u201d; From the installation “Process” in Independence Square, which made everyone pause, to the stairs to the Mythical Beast\u2019s lair, which appeared in the 1st Fort of Kaunas Fortress just for this weekend – all the artistic accents underlined that Kaunas is not only a beautiful city but also a city that wants to be happy in the future.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A contract with Oneself<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most important souvenir of \u201cKaunas 2022\u201d\u00a0 a contract signed with oneself and the city – was taken home by almost 4000 participants of the closing weekend. Just as during the first two acts of the Kaunas trilogy, \u201cConfusion\u201d and \u201cConfluence\u201d, people followed rules and collected stamps provided by colourful characters waiting at the game stops.<\/p>\n

Every city is beautiful. Every city is a city of love. Every city is like Kaunas and Kaunas is like every city. Every city has suffered in the past. Every city wants to be happy in the future. People we know are good people. People we don’t know are good people. People we don’t understand are good people. My freedom depends on the freedom of others. Kaunas is forever. These points in the \u201eContract\u201c reminded everyone to take care of themselves, others and the city.<\/p>\n

The signing ceremony of the \u201cContract\u201d, which was not only visually spectacular but also personally dedicated to each individual, took place hundreds of times in a wishing-washed underpass by the river Nemunas. And, of course, in the hearts and minds of everyone who has lived through Kaunas\u2019 transformation \u201cfrom temporary to contemporary\u201d. After all, as the last clause of the \u201cContract\u201d proclaims, Kaunas is forever.<\/p>\n

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Signing the contract by Linas \u017demgulis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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