New Neo-fresco in Vilnius Continues to Show Support to Ukraine. Lithuania and its capital, Vilnius, have consistently exemplified unwavering support for Ukraine, a nation still embroiled in conflict. Lithuanian artists continue to show support with the best they have — their creativity, this time emerging with a new mural on the capital’s wall. October 19, 2023. To mark the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, a new neo-fresco named: “Unbreakable”, will be installed on a building in the center of Vilnius to commemorate the strength and unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people. The mural is a continuation of its predecessor — the mural Do peremogi To victory” created in 2022 on the so-called “Moscow House”.
“The upcoming artwork will continue to tell the story of how, more than a year after the start of the war in their country, the Ukrainian people have not given up defending themselves, and are ready to go the distance to defend their freedom,” says Lina Šlipavičiūtė, artistic director of the project. “Ukrainians are defending themselves and believe in victory. They believe in the human right to be free, and they embody the values that are important to us all. This is the story that the new neo-fresco tells.”
Presents the same Ukrainian volunteer
In the second neo-fresco, the message of Ukraine’s unwavering determination to defend its freedom and independence continues to be carried by the same strong Ukrainian woman who was pictured on “Moscow House” last year — volunteer Tetiana Drobotia.
“Tetiana, is still there in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, where constant bombings continue,” explains L. Šlipavičiūtė. “In Zaporizhzhia, which is close to the frontline and periodically bombed, life goes on, and through Tetiana’s story we can see part of the reality of this war-torn region of Ukraine.”
Mural “Unbreakable” by Edvardas Činga
As in the first mural, Tetiana’s photo is the work of photographer Elena Tita, who lives and works in Zaporizhzhia. This brave Ukrainian woman has been capturing the reality of war in the Zaporizhzhia region for more than one year. Her photographs were also a major part of the exhibition ‘Ukraine is Here’, which was installed at the Litexpo Exhibition Centre, where the NATO Summit 2023 took place in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The First Neo-Fresco to be dismantled
‘Nezlamna’ will be the third art project for Ukraine made by an international creative team comprising Artscape (Lithuania), the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, art laboratory ‘Kiaurai sienas’ (Lithuania), public organization Postlomograafia klubi (Estonia), and independent artists from Ukraine and Lithuania (Lina Šlipavičiūtė, Tetiana Drobotia, and Elena Tita).
Their first neo-fresco not only showed solidarity with Ukraine but also became the site of an extraordinary spectacle. Inga Briazkalovaitė from Klaipėda, the pioneer, and promoter of vertical dance in Lithuania, presented several vertical dance performances dedicated to Ukraine, entitled ‘Dance of freedom‘.
However, this first fresco is about to be gone — “Moscow House” is set to be demolished, and the dismantled neo-fresco will be sold at a special auction. The auction is expected to take place in the autumn, with all proceeds going to an organization whose main mission is to provide Ukrainian troops with weapons and other equipment necessary for the fight against the invaders. As of today, the Blue/Yellow initiative has successfully amassed a total of 50,034,300 Eur in donations.
Go Vilnius is the official tourism and business development agency of the City of Vilnius. The agency provides visitors, investors, and businesses with all the essential information about the Lithuanian capital.
VILNIUS 700th ANNIVERSARY
Throughout 2023, Vilnius has had several city-wide cultural, educational, and art events to celebrate its 700th anniversary. In 1323 Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, mentioned the city for the very first time in his letters to foreign merchants and craftsmen, and the date, January 25, has been attributed to the official origins of Vilnius as a city. The 700th anniversary this year highlights the colorful history of the capital and invites everyone to celebrate the modern and youthful city, which is constantly growing and reinventing itself every day.
