Stasys Museum: A cultural phenomenon in the art world

By Malin Norman

A new art museum is making waves in Europe, featuring the artwork of Stasys Eidrigevičius. Stasys Museum in Panevėžys opened last summer and has already been named a cultural phenomenon and awarded as Lithuania’s most successful art project. This spring sees the finale of Austrian contemporary artist Hermann Nitsch’s works on display, and the museum opens its next not-to-be-missed international exhibition.

Something is buzzing in Panevėžys. The city in Lithuania is known for its vibrant blend of industry, sports, and culture, and has recently gained widespread attention for a new art museum. Stasys Museum opened its doors on 31 May last year, with three main objectives; to represent the beating cultural heart of the city, to generate artistic interest in the local community, and to build international bridges.

Stasys Museum is home to a vast collection of works by celebrated interdisciplinary artist Stasys Edrigevičius, one of Lithuania’s most prominent contemporary artists, but is also a platform for international artistic talent and creativity. “This is more than just a museum, it’s a space for a new generation of global talent, art, ideas, creativity, and cultural dialogue,” says Vaida Andrijauskaitė, museum director. “The ambition is to become the beating heart of Panevėžys’ culture and an international art destination in the Baltic region.”

Stasys Museum: A cultural phenomenon in the art world

Vaida Andrijauskaitė, director of Stasys Museum. Photo: Paulius Židonio

ICON-O-STASYS and Hermann Nitsch

Stasys Edrigevičius is known for his surreal and dreamy works, and the museum’s main exhibition ICON-O-STASYS encompasses paintings, posters, book illustrations, photography, sculptures, and installations, across three floors inside the museum as well as outside. “Stasys Edrigevičius was born here and feels proud of his roots. Based in Poland since the 1980s, he wanted to give something back to the local community in Panevėžys,” says Andrijauskaitė.

Photo: Norbert Tukaj

On display for the first time in Lithuania are also works by Austrian contemporary artist and composer Hermann Nitsch. He was a pioneer of the Viennese actionism art movement, whose work often transcends the boundaries of traditional art perception. “Having such an international talent displayed just six months after opening is incredible,” smiles Andrijauskaitė. “This unique exhibition expands the boundaries of art dialogue and invites to a conversation that is bold, but at the same time raises deep existential questions.”

Gesamtkunstwerk is on display until 31 March and features a comprehensive collection representing almost 60 years of Hermann Nitsch’s career. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the world of his performances, paintings and philosophical quotes, and see the film Scenes from the Life of Hermann Nitsch, which symbolises the companionship between Hermann Nitsch and Lithuanian creator Jonas Mekas. After the tremendous success of both exhibitions, the museum’s curator, Lina Albrikienė, has more to show.

Photo: Gediminas Kartanas

New international exhibition and forest pavilion

On 10 May, Stasys Museum will open its second international exhibition, curated by Lina Albrikienė. And the Wind Will Blow Us Away, with works by numerous artists from the Baltic states, Scandinavia and Ukraine, is based around the themes of ecology, climate change, sustainability, migration, consequences of war, human as well as animal and nature relationship.

Later in the month, the museum will present Children’s Forest Pavilion – an educational tool that is composed as a playscape and conceived to acknowledge the unique approaches of children to observe, draw conclusions, explain the forest, and demand agency in forming it. This project represented Lithuania at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2023 – and is curated by Jurga Daubaraitė, Egija Inzule and Jonas Žukauskas.

This project brings together works and findings developed in parallel to outdoor activities held with children in woodlands in Lithuania and Finland. Guided by environmental educators, activists, artists, architects, and foresters, they were introduced to think of forests as negotiated spaces where no single actor has a central stake.

The Bilbao effect, in Lithuania

Since its opening, the museum has already attracted more than 70,000 visitors. The building itself was designed as a phenomenon following three strategic keywords: simplicity, logic and fantasy. Designed by IMPLMNT architects, the museum’s monumental though minimalist architecture features details inspired by Stasys Edrigevičius both inside and outside.

The city has recently been awarded nationally for putting Panevėžys on the global map for international art lovers, nominated as Tourism Destination of the Year at the Lithuania Travel Awards, and the building has received an award for best architecture by the National Architects’ Union and nominated as best building by ArchDaily. The museum has also been named Cultural Phenomenon of the Year at the national broadcaster LRT’s Annual Awards, earning recognition for bringing modern art closer to communities outside the capital.

Stasys Museum is an example of the Bilbao effect, which is when a city experiences urban transformation and growth through an architectural landmark, just like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. “Similar to what happened in Bilbao, the whole city has experienced the effects of the new museum,” concludes Andrijauskaitė. “Stasys Museum is reshaping the city, igniting our cultural community, uniting and propelling Panevėžys into the future.”