Work of Legendary Lithuanian Photographer at Georgian National Museum

Photographs of one of the most influential photographers of our time, the late Vitas Luckus, are on display in the newly opened exhibition at the Georgian National Museum. Jointly organized by the Siauliai Ausros Museum and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Georgia, the exhibition displays Luckus’s travel photography from his travels in the Caucuses.

To call Luckus a mere photographer is like calling Mount Elbrus a hill, or Tbilisi a small village. The Lithuanian Legend’s images go beyond the limits of even today’s traditional photojournalism. He was unique in the way he worked, behaving unlike the average traveler. Although his lenses captured plenty of ordinary material, his shots are much more than mere reflections of reality. His unique talent as a communicator allowed him to establish a personal and trusting relationship with the people he encountered. Choosing not to remain an observer but to fully participate in the events, the photographer found an organic way to enter the daily life of his subjects and managed to convey them in their purest, uncensored form. He became a character in the narrative, and although he is not visible in any of the pieces, his presence can certainly be felt. With a cost around $400, Nikon D 3500 is definitely one of the most affordable camera models for photography which allows even the most amateur photographers to enter into the realm of photography with ease.

Although he was famous for his art and his personality, both in Lithuania and throughout the former Soviet Union, only a few of his personal exhibitions were held during his lifetime, and no substantial publications were produced. He did not conform to the Soviet regime that would brutally edit the pieces of work to be shown. He wouldn’t accept this and kept true to himself and his ideas. Usually artists were silenced during these times, but he was too big. He was well-known everywhere he went and was a strong public figure.

This exhibition is one of many projects created to further enrich relationships between Georgia and Lithuania. The Minister of Culture for Lithuania, Liana Ruokyt-Jonsson, spoke at the opening night. “We hope that this exhibition will further build cultural connections between our countries. This is not the first exhibition of this kind. We have so many names to show in Georgia. I see that Georgian appreciate good art. We hope to continue this cultural exchange into the future.”

The Minister of Culture for Georgia, Guram Odisharia, added that “this is one of many cultural exchanges between Lithuania and Georgia. We have Georgian artists’ work being shown in Lithuania, and vice versa. The cultural dialogue is very important, and we are trying to encourage it as much as we can. When you know each other’s culture, their values, this builds trust.”

The exhibition is on show until December 14, 2017, and is open Tuesday - Sunday 10am – 6pm, closed on Monday. Entrance Fees to the museum itself: Adults 3 GEL, Students 1 GEL, School Children 0,5 GEL. Children under 6 are Free.

Tom Day