Situated within the multi-layered cityscape of Vilnius, right between the Cathedral and the mighty River Neris, the location chosen for the exhibition was a significant starting point. It was here that we first encountered Countess Klementina Potockytė-Tiškevičienė (1856–1921), who initiated the construction of a majestic palace nearby. Known as the ‘Lioness of Vilnius,’ Klementina was an ardent fan of parties and entertainment, with her palace hosting grand balls, salon gatherings, live painting performances, and cabaret shows – events that likely tested the moral boundaries of the era and the rigid notion of women’s roles in society. Art historian Dr. Aistė Bimbirytė, who shared some of her research on Klementina’s personality with us, notes that the term ‘lioness’ had almost become a common term in society, used to describe a woman who used emancipation as a guise for entertainment. The main historical sources on Klementina’s personality are her letters and the press of the time: while the latter reports cases of men urging young ladies to avoid Klementina’s company, the same men would later write love letters to her. Klementina’s biography is full of intriguing and sometimes spicy details, some of which we will attempt to recount. However, at the heart of this exhibition are the artists’ works, created and placed within the influence of historical stains and currents.
In developing the exhibition, we met with historians, learning about the city’s image in the 19th and 20th centuries, leisure culture, and women’s roles in society. All this information and the accompanying visions hovered in the background of the creation of the works and the exhibition’s body, influencing its content. The exhibition raises questions about the experience and perception of history, as well as the artistic means used to speculate upon and explore historical themes. Letters are treated as historical sources, yet ultimately everything is perceived as letters; thus, the artworks become historical sources in themselves. Through the displayed works and the exhibition space, a sensory perception of porous and fluid history unfolds.
Curated by: Monika Lipšic
Participating artists: Eglė Pilkauskaitė, Elvyra Kairiūkštytė, Ieva Rižė, Ieva Rojūtė, Monika Jagusinskytė, Barbora Šulniūtė, Samuel Barbier-Ficat
Exhibition scenography by: Barbora Šulniūtė and Monika Lipšic
Graphic design by: Jonė Miškinytė
Text editing and translation by: Alexandra Bondarev, Dangė Vitkienė
Historical consultancy by: Dr. Aistė Bimbirytė and Dr. Juozapas Paškauskas
We would like to thank Regina Norvaišienė for lending us Elvyra Kairiūkštytė’s works, and Gasparas Zondovas, Eugenijus Byčenkovas, Vadim Šamkov, Liudvikas Kesminas, Ūla Gečaitė, Juozas Augulis, Martynas Maziliauskas and Mantvydas Vilys for their help in the installation of the exhibition.
The exhibition is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
