On 10 July, an exhibition entitled Characters of the 21st Century Theatre Stage: A Dialogue of Identities: Ukraine – Lithuania opened in Vilnius. This was reported on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian Institute.
The project was organised by the Scenography Gallery and Lietuvos teatro, muzikos ir kino muziejus with the support of the Ukrainian Institute.
The exhibition demonstrates how contemporary artists use costumes and puppets to reveal the essence of characters and convey national identity. During the opening, project coordinator Aušra Kapočūtė-Vaikutė, museum director Nideta Jarockienė, and exhibition co-curator Bohdan Polischuk emphasised that this exhibition is not just art, but a manifestation of solidarity.
Third Secretary of the Ukrainian Embassy in Lithuania Vladyslav Zozulya delivered a speech on behalf of Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Nikitchenko, noting: “We are a creative nation that always strives to surpass itself. Such events show that we are alive, we are creating, we are looking ahead.” He emphasised that Lithuania is not only a reliable ally in security matters, but also a close friend in the field of culture and art.
The opening programme included lectures on the Kyiv School of Scenography and the history of Ukrainian theatre costumes, as well as a curatorial tour during which Ukrainian artists Danylo Kolot and Oleg Tatarinov, who were present at the opening, commented on their costumes. The exhibition is part of the Lviv Quadrennial of Scenography, supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the Lviv City Council.