21 January 2025

“I Often Forget”. Exhibition by Jonas Kulikauskas

On 27 January, we commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and invite you to the opening of the personal exhibition of the artist Jonas Kulikauskas “I Often Forget” at 12:00 in the Exhibition Hall of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania (3^rd floor). The exhibition is organised by the “Vilnius – Lithuanian Jerusalem” Jewish Community. The violinist Algimantas Peseckas will perform at the opening.

The exhibition “I Often Forget” explores the fragile layer of time in everyday spaces. Jonas Kulikauskas, using a World War II-era lens and a modern 8 x 10-inch camera, embarked on a journey to capture contemporary life in the former Vilnius Ghetto, in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The photographs are exhibited as objects, giving visitors a tactile experience. Binders with photographic silver prints mounted on tables and pedestals, combining contemporary scenes with historical descriptions of a specific place and testimonies of survivors, present horrifying memories of the Vilnius Ghetto, where tens of thousands of Jews were forcibly held.

The installations shed light on the history, conflicts, resistance, survival, confusion and trauma associated with the Holocaust, historical silence, ethnic and cultural desecration. The exhibition pays tribute to the oldest and most significant monument of Litvak Jews, the Great Synagogue of Vilnius, as well as to the tens of thousands of people murdered in Paneriai Forest during the Holocaust.

Jonas Kulikauskas is an interdisciplinary artist inspired by his American and Lithuanian roots. His research-based practice critically examines communities, traditions and institutions. Themes of historical silence, identity and kindness dominate his work.

Kulikauskas is a Fulbright Scholar and award-winning artist whose work is in the permanent collections of the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian, and the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art. He has been a guest lecturer at ArtCenter College of Design (Pasadena, California) since 2002.

The exhibition is open at the National Library until 31 March.

Organizer: “Vilnius – Lithuanian Jerusalem” Jewish Community

Algirdas Malcas

Ginas Dabašinskas

Partner: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

Contributions: Saulius Sužiedelis, Jon Seligman, Tomas Venclova, Rita Glassman, Dovid Katz, Vilnius Gaon Jewish History Museum

Judaica Research Centre

Dr. Lara Lempertienė

Research, excavation, conservation and memorial project team for the Great Synagogue of Vilnius and the Shulhof (Vilnius):

Jonas Seligmanas, Zenonas Baubonis, Justinas Račas and the team of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Force.

Translation: Vilius Jakubčionis

Sponsors:

U.S. Fulbright Foundation

The Puffin Foundation, Ltd.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency grant

Brief about the event

Date

27 January – 31 March
27 January, 12:00 – opening of the exhibition

Time

library working hours

Place

Exhibition Hall, 3rd floor

Attendance

free

More information

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Organisers

“Vilnius – Lithuanian Jerusalem” Jewish Community
Algirdas Malcas
Ginas Dabašinskas

Partners and sponsors

Partner:
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

Sponsors:
U.S. Fulbright Foundation
The Puffin Foundation, Ltd
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency grant

Important

the event may be photographed and/or filmed