Talk & Screening
HOW AUTHORITY GUIDES AND CRIPPLES US
On the Influence of Lithuanian National Artist M. K. Čiurlionis on His Family and the Nation
Tuesday, 11 November 2025, at 19:00,
in the Keizersgrachtkerk, Keizersgracht 566, 1017 EM Amsterdam.
We warmly invite you to an evening dedicated to the legacy of Lithuania’s most celebrated artist, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911) — composer, painter, and symbol of a Nation.
The event will begin with a lecture by contemporary Lithuanian composer Jurgis Kubilius, titled _How Authority Guides and Cripples _Us. Jurgis will explore the paradox of authority through the example of Čiurlionis while also examining why this remarkable artist remains less known internationally than his fellow geniuses, such as Van Gogh and Mondriaan.
The talk will be followed by a screening of the documentary Dangaus šešėlis – The Shadow of Heaven (2009), directed by Romas Lileikis, a descendant of Čiurlionis' family. With remarkable courage and attention Lileikis approached the history of Čiurlionis and his family — long shrouded in legends and myths — in a critical, almost psychoanalytical way, a perspective that was shocking to many at the time. The film offers a rare glimpse into the life of Čiurlionis and his family, combining black-and-white footage, vivid reproductions of his paintings, and unique photographs he himself took.
About the speaker: Jurgis Kubilius (b. 1998) is a Lithuanian composer and speaker whose work reflects the Hermes archetype — bridging conceptual thinking and experience, marked by curiosity and wit. He studied at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and graduated cum laude from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. In addition to composing, he writes essays and music criticism, works as a radio host at the Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT KLASIKA channel, and collaborates with renowned ensembles in Lithuania and beyond.
Date: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Time: 19:00
Location: Keizersgrachtkerk, Keizersgracht 566, 1017 EM Amsterdam,
Entrance: 5 Euro
Or send us an e-mail to : litouwscc@gmail.com.
This event is organized by the Litouws Cultureel Centrum and is partly supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.