Exhibition honors sister who saved Čiurlionis’ art
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In Vilnius, Lithuania, an exhibition opened at the Čiurlionis House dedicated to Valerija Čiurlionytė-Karužienė, the sister of painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Organizers say Valerija’s efforts preserved her brother’s paintings for future generations.
Valerija Čiurlionytė-Karužienė kept a journal titled “Time and Us” from 1914 to 1953, documenting how she repeatedly saved Čiurlionis’ paintings from danger.
She first moved his work out of Vilnius during wartime bombing, and later rescued it from floodwaters that reached the Lithuanian bank where it was stored during the Great Kaunas Flood of 1946. She also protected the paintings from Soviet ideological pressures. Through her persistence, Valerija ultimately helped establish a gallery for Čiurlionis’ work in Kaunas. Romas Lileikis, an exhibition organizer, stated that without her, people would know nothing of Čiurlionis today, as she physically saved his creative legacy.
Art historian Aušra Česnulevičienė explained that Valerija, twenty years younger than her brother, always ensured his workspace was prepared and cared for his materials throughout his life. The exhibition features historical documents and archival material from Valerija’s grandson, Kąstis Zakis, much of which is being shown to the public for the first time. The exhibition’s title, “Valkyrie, Wolf, Mother,” reflects Valerija’s determined and strong character, as she used these nicknames throughout her life.
The show opened as Lithuania marks the 151st anniversary of Čiurlionis’ birth.
