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Kaunas biennial to take place for two months in the historic Stumbras factory spaces: inviting audiences to discover art

September 9, 2025

Every two years, the Kaunas Biennial attracts outstanding Lithuanian and international artists, and this year it will also be hosted in the historic Stumbras factory spaces. The industrial site, with almost 120 years of history, once again opens its doors to art and culture. On September 12, the 15th edition of Lithuania’s largest contemporary art festival will open there with the exhibition Life After Life, which will run for two months. “Renowned artists from around the world note that our factory is a unique and undiscovered industrial space. The environment gives creativity new layers of meaning and allows audiences to experience art from different perspectives. Here, not only space but also time becomes significant –the production halls have their own rhythm and visiting hours. We hope that during the two months of the Biennial, Kaunas residents and city guests will discover unique experiences here,” says Vidmantė Mickevičienė, Head of Visitor Centers at MV GROUP Production. According to Kaunas Biennial director Neringa Kulik, the Stumbras factory is one of the most prominent symbols of Kaunas’s industrial heritage, and its history vividly illustrates processes of transformation. “Today, by hosting the 15th Kaunas Biennial exhibition, the factory becomes a living example of how industrial memory and history can create fertile ground for dialogue with contemporary art,” the curator shares. Space as meaning Kulik emphasizes that one of the Biennial’s main supporters has engaged in the project in a truly multifaceted way. Each building on the factory grounds carries its own story and conveys powerful meanings, making the presentation of works in these historic spaces both a challenge and an opportunity. According to her, artists will enter the site with fresh reflections and immerse themselves in dialogue. “When choosing Biennial locations, we sought places with a strong historical, cultural, or architectural narrative. Stumbras offered a unique context where industrial heritage, collective memory, and ongoing transformation intertwine. In such a setting, contemporary artworks gain an additional layer of meaning—they are not only displayed but also resonate with the space itself,” Kulik notes. Meanwhile, Mickevičienė points out that visitors will be able to join special tours and combined excursions, where they will explore both the Biennial’s main exhibition and the Stumbras museum, founded in 2009. Various creative workshops will also be held – Kaunas Biennial consistently prioritizes accessibility and openness, ensuring visitors feel welcome in the contemporary art space. Anticipating stars of contemporary art The organizers highlight the legendary British artist John Smith as the Biennial’s brightest star. His work reflects on his artistic legacy, his experience with cancer, and his relationship with the present moment. During the opening event on September 12 in the Stumbras spaces, well-known Lithuanian musician and performance artist Paulius Janušonis will perform, along with the London-based collective Rat Section. A live concert at Kaunas Artists’ House will feature Jasper Marsalis – the heir of the famous jazz dynasty, son of Wynton Marsalis and grandson of Ellis Marsalis. In addition, visitors will encounter works by other internationally recognized artists, including Alex Mackin Dolan, Cudelice Brazelton IV, Phung-Tien Phan, Niklas Taleb, Max Göran, and more. The factory as an active participant in change According to Mickevičienė, the Stumbras factory is an inseparable part of Kaunas’s life – a living space where not only industry grows. “We became partners and supporters of the Biennial because we want to show how for nearly 120 years we’ve been making history, integrating into the city’s life, and always being part of transformation – supporting change. And art is the best illustration of change, able to reveal its meaning in multifaceted ways to society. That’s why this impressive concentration of contemporary art in the factory spaces is so important and exciting for us,” she stresses. She adds that large art projects are not new to Stumbras, but each one uniquely colors and transforms the rhythm of industrial life. “Our spaces are highly valued by musicians. Every concert or performance here takes on a special atmosphere, leaves a deep impression, and forges an authentic bond with the audience. So our contribution to the city’s cultural life is not only our rich historical heritage but also living action and transformation,” Mickevičienė shares. In her words, the exhibition title Life After Life perfectly suits Stumbras, which has experienced countless changes over its nearly 120-year existence. The main Biennial exhibition Life After Life will run for two months, from September 12 to November 23. Artists will invite visitors to reflect not only on personal and cultural transformations but also on how spaces and objects acquire new meanings over time. Art will inhabit not only the historic Stumbras factory spaces (K. Būgos St. 7) but also Kaunas Artists’ House (V. Putvinskio St. 56) and the Temporary M. K. Čiurlionis Art Gallery at the Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education (A. Mackevičiaus St. 27).

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