This summer, the greyhound "Katinas" will "speak" in memory of the writer Jurga Ivanauskaita

Writer, artist and traveler Jurga Ivanauskaitė would have celebrated her 60th birthday this year. Symbolically, from this summer, it will be possible to hear what the writer wants to tell us with the memorial sculpture "Cat" created by Ksenija Jaroševaitė. Katina was voiced in Lithuanian by actor Rolandas Kazlas, in English by Paulius Markevičius, the text was written by writer Daiva Čepauskaitė.

In addition to K. Jaroševaitė's "Katina", this year the MO Museum together with the Museum of Energy and Technology is talking about another city sculpture - "Electricity" by Boleslovs Balzukevičius and Petros Mazūrs, located on the tower of the Museum of Energy and Technology (formerly the first Vilnius power plant). The author of the text of "Elektra" is poet, playwright Mindaugas Nastaravičius, the text was voiced by actress Miglė Polikevičiūtė. These two sculptures complement other talking sculptures loved by Vilnius residents and city guests, whose recordings have been listened to almost 2015 thousand times since the beginning of the project (in 120). together.

You can hear the stories of the sculptures while walking through the streets of Vilnius

"I am glad that two more sculptures join the talking sculptures of the city of Vilnius. Symbolically, the writer Jurgas Ivanauskaitė is congratulated on her birthday by the "Cat" who is quietly purring in her square. And the light-carrying "Elektra" will be able to tell its story to the townspeople walking by the Neris. Vilnius Talking Sculptures is an initiative launched by the MO Museum in 2015, inviting Vilnius residents and city guests to unexpected dialogues with sculptures just by walking through the streets of Vilnius", says Milda Ivanauskienė, director of the MO Museum. 

"This place was not the most attractive until "Katin" settled here. When Jurga Ivanauskaitė's beloved character settled here, the square became cozy and inviting to stay longer. The expression of the "cat" shows that you will not drive him out of this yard, he is the master here. It's great that from now on he will also invite to talk", says the patron of the project, the mayor of the city of Vilnius Remigius Šimašius. 

23 sculptures already speak in Vilnius 

Free, independent from anyone, the owner of himself, K. Jaroševaitė's "Cat" will now be able to reveal his philosophical approach to passers-by. Everyone will be able to hear the sculpture's call by scanning the special QR code next to the sculpture or by entering the specified internet address in the browser. The talked-about "Cat" has been located on Aguonų street since 2009, where the writer J. Ivanauskaitė lived for ten years. Here she created most of her most important works. You can learn more about "Katina" and the writer by calling the sculpture.

And those who want to hear 100-year-old stories can do so by calling "Elektra". Light-bearing sculpture created in 1902. B. Balzukevičius, was built on the first Vilnius power plant. During the Soviet era, "Elektra" was demolished and in 1994. rebuilt by the sculptor Petros Mazūrs. Currently located here Museum of Energy and Technology. Having survived both world wars, the sculpture resurrected by P. Mazūrs has stories that have never been heard before.

"Katinas" and "Elektra" complement the sculptures already presented by the MO Museum in Vilnius. Last summer, Vladas Urbanavičius's "Krantinės Ark", more widely known, spoke pipe named after Ksenija Jaroševaitė's sculpture "Sitting" and the wall of Literatau Street, which is loved by many tourists and guests of the city, is located comfortably in the MO sculpture garden. A total of 23 sculptures have already been discussed in the city of Vilnius.  

Acquaintance with sculptures - on an excursion

On the evening of June 16, the patron of the project Vilnius city municipality presents a tour of Vilnius' talking sculptures and invites you not only to call the talking sculptures, but also to hear their stories. 

Having reserved all places on the tour very quickly, representatives of the MO Museum remind us that it is convenient to get to know the sculptures on your own - a map of the talking sculptures of Vilnius has been prepared. It can be downloaded or picked up at the MO Museum and dive into a sculptural journey. Map here: https://mo.lt/vilniaus-kalbancios-skulpturos/ 

What is "Vilnius Talking Sculptures"?

"Vilnius speaking sculptures" is an interactive project that offers an active and rich leisure alternative for citizens and guests of Vilnius. Interested passers-by can receive a call on their smartphones and thus get to know important Lithuanian historical figures, representatives of other nations or fictional characters-symbols of the city immortalized in the sculptures. 

In the voices of actors, singers, public figures, the sculptures tell about themselves, about the times when the personalities embodied in them lived, about what they see around them, how they feel in their sculptural body and in that corner of Vilnius where they are destined to be. During the live call, the listeners can not only get to know the personalities or characters immortalized in the sculptures, but also learn more about the cultural, historical and architectural heritage of Vilnius, and remember the history of the city.

The Vilnius Talking Sculptures Project, which started in 2015, was initiated by the Museum of Modern Art, and the patron of the project is the Vilnius City Municipality.