Hosted by the Lithuanian Embassy in the UK, Vitrina gallery presents exhibition Kaunas: City of Modernism. Exhibition contains books, publications and catalogues exploring the identity of Kaunas architecture. Focussing on the interwar period and the development of modernist movement, the publications present artistic and architectural heritage of temporary Lithuanian capital – the city of Kaunas.

Publications explore how the interwar period (1918–1939) inspired Kaunas to build industrial constructions and establish new urban, social and cultural traditions, including Architecture of Optimism: The Kaunas Phenomenon, 1918–1940, Magazine from Kaunas “Į“, Kaunas 2022 Contemporary Capital. European Capital of Culture, BRUT Boredom. High–rises, emptiness and play, and more.

It’s no surprise Kaunas is now called a Lithuanian culture destination – a city with new energy. This June, Kaunas has launched its 12th Biennial “After leaving | Before Arriving”. Moreover, the city is on its way to become the European Capital of Culture in 2022 and boasts an array of preparatory events across all city engaging communities and art spaces.

Kaunas: City of Modernism welcomes visitors to experience its unique architecture and art events at Vitrina gallery, Lithuania House, 2 Bessborough Gardens, London SW1V 2JE.

The exhibition was initiated by Lithuanian Culture Attaché Juste Kostikovaite in collaboration with „Galerija 101”, publishing house „LAPAS“, Kaunas photography gallery, Kaunas Biennial, Kaunas Contemporary Capital 2022, Kaunasin.lt.  You can check out the publications on display when passing through the Vitrina Gallery window or arrange a meeting with the Lithuanian Culture Attache in the UK. Project partner – Lithuanian Culture Institute.

It’s already the second time this year that the Lithuanian Embassy is offers Londoners to get a glimpse to the cultural life of Kaunas. During the London Festival of Architecture “The CASS” school of art, design and architecture partnered with the Lithuanian Culture Attache in the UK and presented a talk on “Architecture & Optimism”, focussing on the interwar period architecture of Kaunas through the relationship between emotional landscape and architectural solutions.