The year 2025 marks a special anniversary - the 150th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest Lithuanian artists, composer and painter, Mikolaj Konstantinas Čiurlionis. To mark the occasion, various cultural events will take place throughout the year in Lithuania, not only to pay tribute to this remarkable artist, but also to rediscover his legacy.

This week, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania opens the 9th part of artist Jolita Vaitkutė's series "Awakened from Books" – a portrait of M. K. Čiurlionis, created from the National Library's collection of books, using the artist's original technique.

The cycle "Awakened from Books" commemorates the founders of the Lithuanian state, the awakeners of the nation, writers and scientists on the Library's shelves, including the social activist and publicist Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė, the semiotician Algirdas Julius Greimas, the archaeologist Marija Gimbutienė and other Lithuanian luminaries.

"The first eight portraits were very warmly received by visitors and eventually became a recognisable highlight of the National Library. We believe that the new portrait of Čiurlionis and other activities of the Library dedicated to the Čiurlionis Year will encourage people to take time to remember or discover Čiurlionis's work, and will provide creative inspiration to our visitors and guests", - says Aušrinė Žilinskienė, Director General of the National Library.

Visitors will be able to see the latest work of J. Vaitkutė's artistic cycle in the atrium of the library's 3rd floor, near the stained glass window. The opening of the installation will take place on Friday at 3 pm. The installation will be accompanied by a thematic exposition of publications dedicated to M. K. Čiurlionis. This is the first National Library event dedicated to the anniversary of the artist.

Čiurlionis "awakened from books" by artist Jolita Vaitkutė

Čiurlionis "awakened from books" by artist Jolita Vaitkutė

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