Gift from Vilnius –  EUR 50,000 and Promise of Exposition – to the Lithuanian Artists who Triumphed in Venice Biennale 2019

Vaiva Grainytė, one of the winners of the Golden Lion prize in the International Art Exhibition “La Biennale di Venezia”, who returned to Vilnius tonight, was welcomed by Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius and Vilnius City Council members at Vilnius Airport, where she was given a gift worth EUR 50,000 from Vilnius city dwellers. The Lithuanian pavilion was shown a great appreciation for the opera performance Sun and Sea  (Marina). This performance piece won the Golden Lion award for the best national participation.

It has been agreed that this piece of art, which has already been exposed in Vilnius, will be demonstrated to Vilnius city dwellers once again this or next year.

“It is a remarkable, unexpected but long-awaited achievement both for Lithuania and for Vilnius. We are proud of this accomplishment and feel inspired. We hope that this symbolic gift from Vilnius will inspire the authors of the performance to continue experimenting, searching for ideas, and creating new works which will promote Vilnius and Lithuania in the world. Unique and surprising pieces of art are born in the wonderful planet of Vilnius; they have to be shown to Vilnius residents and to the world,” Vilnius City Mayor said.

The Golden Lion prize was awarded to three Lithuanian artists Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė and Lina Lapelytė for “experimental spirit and unexpected representation of the pavilion”. The winning performance spreads the message about the approaching climate change effects and the fatigue of humanity and the Earth. The entire action takes place on an artificial beach which may be observed from the top.

The exact date and location in which this performance will be shown will become clear after the demonstration of the performance finishes in Venice at the end of November.