"The Great Industry" – the exhibition from the Communities’ Platform cycle "Back up" stories

Kaunas Picture Gallery, K. Donelaičio St. 16, Kaunas

The Great Industry – the exhibition from the Communities’ Platform cycle Back up stories.

The title of the exhibition hides a certain dose of irony as it reveals the pathology of Soviet industry. Diseases of the industrialization, the planned economy, a happy, though simulated, society of the century can be easily identified through exhibits, texts and sounds.

The exhibits and back up stories line up like the most unexpected fragments snatched from the industrial panorama of Kaunas of the 1960s. The production of the then flourishing industrial enterprises became the basic focus of the exhibition – from motley draperies produced at Kauno Audiniai to woolen fabrics of the highest quality of Drobė from which suits were made not only for the local elite of the Communist Party but also for Leonid Brezhnev. Of interest is the collection of manufactured articles at Kaspinas – the smallest textile company in Kaunas. These are the sashes for Song Festivals, elegant woven ties for men, underwear elastics for ladies – the only manifestation of sexuality in a labour woman's wardrobe. The exhibition shows a stunning innovation of 1960 at Kaspinas factory – an artificial blood vessel.

Inspired by the collection of audio records of the Great Medical Encyclopedia (1960) which present nonrhythmic heart sounds, psychiatrist’s talks with patients, respiratory and speech breakdowns composer Artūras Bumšteinas created a sound installation Clay throats.. All these sounds are transmitted by loudspeakers installed in decorative vases made by Lithuanian ceramicists in the early Soviet period. No less expressive are the titles of the vases – Potato digging, Pioneers at picnic, Cattle-breeding farm, Kaunas HEP station, Fifteen republics.

Curator – Auksė Petrulienė.

Back up stories have been supported by the Lithuanian Culture Council.

Exhibition works: 13 05 2017–28 02 2018