Sunday, August 18, 2024
After a late breakfast this Sunday morning, Jeff and I set off to see more of Vilnius. Our hotel was located in an enclave of modern high-rise buildings and Jeff suggested that we start off by walking through this area. We did so but after several blocks, we discovered the periphery of the modernism and its transition to older wooden buildings. The constrast was rather sharp and along the border the shiny glass of the modern new buildings symbolically reflected the past.
We eventually stumbled upon the Lithuanian National Gallery of Art (which I had eyed from my hotel room window earlier). After entering the lobby to look around, we decided that we would like to visit but wanted to eat lunch first. So, we headed toward the pedestrian bridge to a Food Court midway across the Neris River that we had spotted yesterday. After scoping out all the dining options, we both decided to order from WOKout. I had beer with a delicous stir-fry entree and deep-fried bananas with caramel sauce for dessert.
——— Our Lunch Venue ———
Following lunch, we walked back to the Lithuanian National Gallery of Art. After purchasing tickets, we followed signs for the numbered galleries. Suprisingly, the first gallery was downstairs and was a temporary visiting collection of Japan’s pop culture tradition from the Edo period to modern times. The remainder of the galleries featured 20th and 21st century works of Lithuanian artists. The compositions and styles varied widely and included war-era subjects, rural landscapes, and abstracts. The building architecture was also interesting with large displays areas and massive glass and stone exterior walls. We spent several hours absorbing modern Lithuanian artwork some of which can be viewed online.
—— Lithuanian National Gallery of Art ——
Letter from the Front, Aleksandr Laktionove 1950
From the Series Fantasies Mikalojus Ciurlionis 1904-1905
Next, we decided to visit a second art museum on the other side of the river. However, as we tried to cross the main street along the river, we encountered a large organized bicycle ride. There were thousands of riders and we waited about ten minutes before we had a long enough opening among the bikes to dash across the street. We then crossed the pedestrian bridge again and, after a few blocks, found the Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art.
We purchased tickect at the Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art and climbed stairs to the top floor to see an exhibition titled Unframed. This exhibition focused on the works of three Baltic women artists: Malle Leis, Maija Tabaka, and Marija Terese Rozanskaite. They were each artists in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, respectively, during Soviet occupation and challenged contemporary art trends through non-conventional approaches. Indeed, their works were bold and disticntly different from those we had just viewed in the National Gallery.
Vytautas Kasiulis Museum of Art
Heart Surgery II Marija Terese Rozanskaite 1972
Self-Portrait Miaja Tanaka 1981
After exiting our second art museum of the day, we wandered further into town and found a coffee shop to take a break and get rejuventated.
—— Coffee Break ———
Eventually, we headed back to the Radisson Blu and at 7 pm, reported to the lobby for our Baltic Vision welcome meeting. There, we were provided with customized programs for our tours and vouchers for a free drink at the bar in the lobby. Jeff and I opted for a local lager. We made friends with a couple, Jo and John, from Canberra, Australia, and enjoyed socializing with them. Afterwards, we headed to the bar on the 24th floor where we enjoyed a nightcap and a snack along with a nice nightime view of Vilnius. Then, we returned to our rooms to retire for the evening.
