The 13th Kaunas Biennial titled “Once Upon Another Time… gyveno jie jau kitaip” will take place to 20 February 2022. The exhibition offers reflections on the current global situations, including the pandemic, with a curatorial project that explores human resilience and adaptation. Curated by Josée Drouin-Brisebois, the biennial investigates different forms of storytelling and narrative in contemporary art. At times, these stories are grounded in myths and fictions associated with the passage of time, transformation and evolution. In other moments, they explore experienced personal and communal tales of survival. The exhibition proposes a sharing of stories rooted in diverse worldviews and moments in time, from the past, present and even the future.
The biennial brings together 23 international artists and groups from Lithuania, Poland, Germany, France, United Kingdom, USA, Canada and Brazil. Ten new artworks are being commissioned for the 13th Kaunas Biennial, an event which is one of the most significant contemporary art events, opening Kaunas European Capital of Culture 2022.
Drouin-Brisebois stated: “Through a series of engaging encounters with contemporary art in unusual places, visitors will embark on an exploratory journey of the architectural and lived history of Kaunas, which will be animated in renewed and surprising ways. Through their artworks that convey compelling and resonant narratives, the artists consider the resilience and adaptation of living beings, as many continue to face adversity, injustice, oppression and climate change. The aim is to encourage audiences to connect through the familiarity of storytelling, to foster empathy and hopefully new understanding”.
Participating artists:
David Altmejd (Canada/USA), Christian Boltanski (France), Shary Boyle (Canada), Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller (Canada), Douglas Gordon (Scotland, UK), Petrit Halilaj (Kosovo), Kristina Inčiūraitė (Lithuania/Ireland), Isuma (Canada), Kapwani Kiwanga (Canada/France), Lina Lapelytė (Lithuania), Laura Lima (Brazil) together with Rasma Noreikytė (Lithuania) and Giedrė Kriaučionytė (Lithuania), Jonas Mekas (Lithuania/USA), Pakui Hardware (Neringa Černiauskaitė and Ugnius Gelguda, Lithuania), Augustas Serapinas (Lithuania), Jeremy Shaw (Canada/Germany), Monika Sosnowska (Poland), SetP Stanikas (Svajonė and Paulius Stanikai) (Lithuania/France), Indrė Šerpytytė (Lithuania/UK), Emilija Škarnulytė (Lithuania), Althea Thauberger (Canada), Goodhearter Wisher (Vytautas Viržbickas, Lithuania), Simona Žemaitytė (Lithuania).
A special project with the Belarusian students from the European Humanities University will be coordinated by Artūras Raila (Lithuania). The students include Darya Karalkova, Aliona Makhnach, Volha Mirankova, Alesia Pesenka in collaboration with the photographer Yauhen Attsetski, Aleksei Shklianko, Viktoryia Yaskevich and Yauheni Zahorski.
FILM PROGRAMME AND ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME
During the exhibition, a special film programme will be presented, screening selected films by Jonas Mekas (Lithuania/USA), Petrit Halilaj (Kosovo) and Isuma (Canada). A special online film programme will feature Douglas Gordon (Scotland, UK), Petrit Halilaj (Kosovo/Germany), Kristina Inčiūraitė (Lithuania), Isuma (Canada), Jonas Mekas (Lithuania/USA), Jeremy Shaw (Canada/Germany) and Simona Žemaitytė (Lithuania).
The main exhibition venues for the 13th Kaunas Biennial include the House of Basketball, Tadas Ivanauskas Zoology Museum and the Devil Museum, VMU art gallery “101”.
The exhibition is organised by Kaunas Biennial. The project is supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture, Kaunas City Municipality and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. The event is presented in collaboration with the Office of the Embassy of Canada to Lithuania and is a part of the project Kaunas European Capital of Culture 2022.
12 November 2021 – 20 February 2022
Kaunas, Lithuania
Curated by Josée Drouin-Brisebois
Organized by Kaunas Biennial (Lithuania)
www.bienale.lt [1]/
https://www.facebook.com/kaunas.biennial [2]
[3]https://www.instagram.com/kaunasbiennial/ [3]
House of Basketball
Althea Thauberger. Reverse the Antenna. Two-channel video installation, with sound, 15 min. The work was realized in part with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts and with the participation of the community of Sitkūnai Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Althea Thauberger. Reverse the Antenna. Two-channel video installation, with sound, 15 min. The work was realized in part with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts and with the participation of the community of Sitkūnai Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Althea Thauberger. Reverse the Antenna. Two-channel video installation, with sound, 15 min. The work was realized in part with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts and with the participation of the community of Sitkūnai Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Althea Thauberger. Reverse the Antenna. Two-channel video installation, with sound, 15 min. The work was realized in part with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts and with the participation of the community of Sitkūnai Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Giedrė Kriaučionytė. Fog Nets, 2021, Linen thread. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Giedrė Kriaučionytė. Fog Nets, 2021, Linen thread. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Giedrė Kriaučionytė. Fog Nets, 2021, Linen thread. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Giedrė Kriaučionytė. Fog Nets, 2021, Linen thread. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller. Opera for a Small Room, 2005. Mixed media with sound, record players, records and synchronized lighting, 20 minute loop. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller. Opera for a Small Room, 2005. Mixed media with sound, record players, records and synchronized lighting, 20 minute loop. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller. Opera for a Small Room, 2005. Mixed media with sound, record players, records and synchronized lighting, 20 minute loop. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Jonas Mekas. In an Instant it All Came Back to Me, 2015, Color printing on glass. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Jonas Mekas. In an Instant it All Came Back to Me, 2015, Color printing on glass. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Jonas Mekas. In an Instant it All Came Back to Me, 2015, Color printing on glass. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Kapwani Kiwanga. Seed bank, 2020, Wool weave, glazed ceramics. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Kapwani Kiwanga. Seed bank, 2020, Wool weave, glazed ceramics. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Kapwani Kiwanga. Seed bank, 2020, Wool weave, glazed ceramics. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Kapwani Kiwanga. Seed bank, 2020, Wool weave, glazed ceramics. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Laura Lima. Ablatanalba 2021. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Laura Lima. Ablatanalba 2021. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Laura Lima. Ablatanalba 2021. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Laura Lima. Ablatanalba 2021. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Kristina Inčiūraitė. The Balance of Sizes, 2021, Experimental film, colour, sound, 11 minutes. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Kristina Inčiūraitė
Kristina Inčiūraitė. The Balance of Sizes, 2021, Experimental film, colour, sound, 11 minutes. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Kristina Inčiūraitė
Kristina Inčiūraitė. The Balance of Sizes, 2021, Experimental film, colour, sound, 11 minutes. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Kristina Inčiūraitė
Monika Sosnowska, C and Concrete, 2017, Concrete and metal. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Monika Sosnowska, C and Concrete, 2017, Concrete and metal. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Petrit Halilaj. You used to fly, go everywhere and wake up those who are asleep (Tristan), 2018, Steel, costume from the performance Shkrepëtima in Runik. Shkrepëtima (TOKA JONĒ), 2018, Red velvet curtain, props (woolen yarn and spool, embroidery hoop and needle, a wooden rifle). Courtesy of the artist, ChertLüdde Berlin and kamel menour, Paris and London. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Petrit Halilaj. You used to fly, go everywhere and wake up those who are asleep (Tristan), 2018, Steel, costume from the performance Shkrepëtima in Runik. Shkrepëtima (TOKA JONĒ), 2018, Red velvet curtain, props (woolen yarn and spool, embroidery hoop and needle, a wooden rifle). Courtesy of the artist, ChertLüdde Berlin and kamel menour, Paris and London. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Petrit Halilaj. You used to fly, go everywhere and wake up those who are asleep (Tristan), 2018, Steel, costume from the performance Shkrepëtima in Runik. Shkrepëtima (TOKA JONĒ), 2018, Red velvet curtain, props (woolen yarn and spool, embroidery hoop and needle, a wooden rifle). Courtesy of the artist, ChertLüdde Berlin and kamel menour, Paris and London. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Petrit Halilaj. You used to fly, go everywhere and wake up those who are asleep (Tristan), 2018, Steel, costume from the performance Shkrepëtima in Runik. Shkrepëtima (TOKA JONĒ), 2018, Red velvet curtain, props (woolen yarn and spool, embroidery hoop and needle, a wooden rifle). Courtesy of the artist, ChertLüdde Berlin and kamel menour, Paris and London. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Petrit Halilaj. You used to fly, go everywhere and wake up those who are asleep (Tristan), 2018, Steel, costume from the performance Shkrepëtima in Runik. Shkrepëtima (TOKA JONĒ), 2018, Red velvet curtain, props (woolen yarn and spool, embroidery hoop and needle, a wooden rifle). Courtesy of the artist, ChertLüdde Berlin and kamel menour, Paris and London. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Petrit Halilaj. You used to fly, go everywhere and wake up those who are asleep (Tristan), 2018, Steel, costume from the performance Shkrepëtima in Runik. Shkrepëtima (TOKA JONĒ), 2018, Red velvet curtain, props (woolen yarn and spool, embroidery hoop and needle, a wooden rifle). Courtesy of the artist, ChertLüdde Berlin and kamel menour, Paris and London. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Rasma Noreikytė. Altogether, 2021, old and previously used wool, synthetic and cotton yarns. Commissioned for Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Rasma Noreikytė. Altogether, 2021, old and previously used wool, synthetic and cotton yarns. Commissioned for Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
SetP Stanikas. Kaunas, 2021, Mixed media installation with photographs, sound and sculptural objects. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
SetP Stanikas. Kaunas, 2021, Mixed media installation with photographs, sound and sculptural objects. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
SetP Stanikas. Kaunas, 2021, Mixed media installation with photographs, sound and sculptural objects. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
SetP Stanikas. Kaunas, 2021, Mixed media installation with photographs, sound and sculptural objects. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoology Museum
Jeremy Shaw. Liminals, 2017, Single channel video installation with 5.1 soundtrack, 31 min. 45 seconds. The work was realized in part with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts, The Canadian Embassy in Rome and KONIG GALERIE, Berlin, for the 57th Venice Biennale, 2017. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Jeremy Shaw. Liminals, 2017, Single channel video installation with 5.1 soundtrack, 31 min. 45 seconds. The work was realized in part with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts, The Canadian Embassy in Rome and KONIG GALERIE, Berlin, for the 57th Venice Biennale, 2017. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Jeremy Shaw. Liminals, 2017, Single channel video installation with 5.1 soundtrack, 31 min. 45 seconds. The work was realized in part with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts, The Canadian Embassy in Rome and KONIG GALERIE, Berlin, for the 57th Venice Biennale, 2017. Photo: Martynas Plepys
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda
Pakui Hardware. Skewed Taxonomy, 2021, Glass, wasp nests, stainless steel, resin, textiles, LED lamps, latex rubber, paraffin wax, sand, chia seeds, soil and silicone. Commissioned for the Kaunas Biennial, 2021. Courtesy the artists and carlier gebauer Berlin, Madrid. Photo: Ugnius Gelguda