Lithuanian artist Sigita Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė presented her art work “Wall“ at the opening of the art exhibition “The Future We Want” in Geneva‘s historic Palace of Nations on November 22. The art work was nominated to the United Nations Office in Geneva art contest by the Permanent Mission of Lithuania in Geneva. It was selected as the winner among the 44 works of art from all over the world in the contest dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. The artists from Lichtenstein and China won second and third place respectively. The Director of the UN Office in Geneva Ms Tatiana Valovaya awarded a special prize to an artist from Brazil.
Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė addressed the guests expressing congratulations on the occasion of the UN’s 75thanniversary and drew a parallel between the story reflected in the painting and the painful experience of Lithuanian exiles, which had also touched her own family. Conceptually engaging and original in technique, Sigita Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė’s painting is part of the author’s project “By the Rivers of Babylon. Refugees and Exiles”, which she worked on in 2017-2018. The characters in the painting are separated from the future they want by an insurmountable wall.
The exhibition in the Palace of Nations was open until November 12. After that the art works will be transferred to the art gallery „D10 Art Space“ in Geneva’s city centre and exhibited there until mid-January 2021.
Culture Ministry Awards
Culture Minister Mindaugas Kvietkauskas awarded three Lithuanians with the highest ministry awards in the field of arts and culture “Carry Your Light and Have Faith”. The awards were given to heritage conservationist Rolandas Janulis, Lithuanian Culture Council Chair Daina Urbanavičienė and Klaipėda Music Theatre Director Laima Vilimienė.
In his speech Kvietkauskas noted that the awards were being presented under unusual circumstances, a time requiring fortitude. These cultural activists have found that strength within themselves, and were able to persevere. “For this reason I salute them as shining examples, and take this opportunity to thank them and the entire cultural community that you represent. “
The award is given to citizens of Lithuania and countries abroad for their work in culture and the arts over the past ten years.
