The Crowds
The Crowds
The representation of crowds in Lithuanian art from
the 19th century till nowadays
An air of mystery surrounds the crowd. For some, the crowd is always to be feared, as the mass inherently threatens the boundaries of the individual. Others are inspired to carry out acts which an individual would never dare to perform alone. Everyone belonging to a crowd may experience a feeling of community and equality. But it might still frighten people with its 'inherent' rebelliousness: it is crowds that throw tomatoes on to the stage in a theatre, and fight on the barricades. However you look at it, the historical events of the last few centuries are unimaginable without the participation of the masses. But what about today? What is the potential of contemporary crowds, packs, gatherings and communities?
This exhibition presents works of art that were created in Lithuania over the last two hundred years. That is approximately how long the modern phenomenon called a crowd has been in existence. However, the exhibition focuses not on the crowd, but on collective images of crowds born in artists' imaginations. The relationship between the individual and the collective imagination recalls the relationship between the individual and the crowd. For a crowd is not a sum of individuals: a crowd is a social experiment provoked by a meeting of different individuals.
Curators: Linara Dovydaitytė, Dovilė Tumpytė
Partner: Lithuanian National Radio and Television
Sponsors: The Culture Support Foundatio, UAB "Exterus"
Media sponsors: "Centras" and Infashion.lt