The performance of STASYS2 started at 9 o'clock in the morning, at Independence Square. From there I pushed the wardrobe through Klaipėda, Vilnius, J. Basanavičiaus, Elektra, Vasario 16-osios and Respublikas streets.
The entire procession was broadcast live on the Facebook event: STASYS2 LIVE.
The poster that got me attacked in a coffee shop a week before the event. More about it >>
Photos by Sekundė.lt
performance
On December 16, 2023, I pushed a two-door wardrobe around the center of Panevėžys for 6 hours. Pushing, I once again walked the Panevėžys 520th birthday parade route. At the end of the road, in front of the Stasis Eidrigevičius Arts Center, I repainted the closet in the colors of the rainbow flag. An hour after the end of the performance, unknown persons washed the rainbow with water.
The idea was inspired by a conflict with the management of the Stasis Eidrigevičius Arts Center, which had not allowed the use of the colors of the LGBTQ+ flag in the city's birthday parade. The management argued that it is not yet time for such a flag in Panevėžys and the use of rainbow colors will anger Panevėžys city leaders.
The performance was realized thanks to the cultural and art scholarship of the Panevėžys city municipality.
STASYS2
Video documentation by Judita Mikalkeviča and Arvydas Skrebė.
Jaunuolio komentaras
Laisvės aikštėje.
Young man's comment
at the Freedom Square.
A conversation on the LRT show Culture Week about STASYS2 and artistic activism in the context of Panevėžys. The host of the show is Marius Eidukonis.
I imagine that after washing off the paint, people dreamed of restoring the original, correct, suitable, acceptable form of the wardrobe. However, this washed closet is no longer that innocent closet. The whiteness of this closet already testifies to aggression, discrimination, homophobia. Now is the time to ask which of these connotations are the whiteness of other, larger cabinets?
As a result of the damage caused, a pre-judicial investigation has been initiated at the Panevėžys police.
