Šventė

A feast in ancient cultures is an event where people meet together and communicate with their deities. Focused on the “here and now” moment, it has a strong penetrating impact on the people's being. In olden days art and religion were so closely related that they were nearly identical. Indeed it remains unclear whether art may become a sacred deed, or, the other way round, can religion become an art or become dissolved in it?

The ancient community tradition of feasting, which always involves gathering and sharing meals, is being recreated here through the language of art within the Šventė Project. Eating in itself is a very intimate thing, while sharing a meal is an expression of particular closeness. In olden days sharing a meal was also a religious act, as witnessed by a host of meal related rituals and food sacrifice habits.

The sacred atmosphere especially becomes evident in the Video Recording which captures the get-together of the artists themselves. The recording features six women, dressed in white outfits, sitting by the table dressed in white linens and covered with ample of dishes. In the shade of Linden trees, they are sharing food and engaging in conversation. This gathering echoes the venerable tradition when sitting together at the table unified the dead and the living.

The respect to our fathers' traditions focuses our attention on the meaning and value of human relationship. Sharing food is associated with thoughts, energy and information conveyed by artistic means since art is like food nourishes our soul.

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