Hearing for the first time about the center of Europe, which is geographically located on the territory of Lithuania, sounds suspicious, there are more questions than answers. How can it happen that the European center is in the territory of Lithuania, on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea? It is unexpected, but precisely in 1989. Scientists from the French National Institute of Geography have determined the location of the geographical center of the European continent based on the newly established points of the continental boundaries. Using the method of centers of gravity, they found the geographic center of Europe to be 54 degrees 54 minutes north latitude and 25 degrees 19 minutes east longitude. The exact location of this point is in Lithuania, 26 km north of Vilnius, near the village of Purnuskiai. This is how suddenly the location of the center of Europe becomes the amber country – Lithuania, whose territory has long been famous for its amazingly beautiful nature, abundance of wild animals, hard working people, exceptional folklore, creative and sporty people, delicious cuisine and much, much more…
And very close to the center of Europe in 1991 the open-air museum “Europe Park” was founded by Gintaras Karosas, a Lithuanian artist, public and cultural figure, covering an area of 55 hectares, located 19 km north of Vilnius city center. Zalesa river flows nearby. Therefore, when embarking on a journey through the Europe Park – a magical world of nature and art – we will unexpectedly discover the unique works of artists from all over the world and the unique nature of Lithuania.
In the Europe Park, we will discover surprising art that enchants, excites, pushes and leads us to the layers of philosophy and the special peace of nature; the latter soothes and allows you to feel the natural harmony of art and nature. An open-air exhibition a few decades ago was only the idea and vision of one young person, which today has turned into a special art space. It exclusively presents a huge collection of artists from around the world. According to the artist Magdalena Abakanowicz (Poland), “Europe Park is a place where art and people from all over the world meet.” It is worth embarking on an inspiring art journey, exploring the open-air museum, observing and following prepared routes or at your own discretion, experiencing and discovering new perspectives and the diversity of views of artists from around the world.
Over 100 sculptures by artists from 32 countries are exhibited in the park. Among them are famous creators of contemporary art from Europe, America, Japan, Egypt, Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa – Magdalena Abakanowicz, Sol LeWitt, Dennis Oppenheim, etc.
The first sculpture was created by G. Karosas himself “Symbol of the European Park” (1991). “It was like a cornerstone marking the foundation of a European park, it was placed in a sacred clearing surrounded by oaks. This sculpture has become a symbol of the museum and is depicted in the logo of the European Park”.
Sculptor John Barlow Hudson (USA) claims that the center is very important in his work, usually all his sculptures have it. “It can be the connection of heaven and earth, the unity of man and nature, simply the center of our, European, universe.” The presence of the center, self-centering is also important in the practice of Tai chi chuan, an Eastern martial art. In 1994, Jon Barlow Hudson’s work “Hands of the Clouds” was staged in 1994 – a sculpture of four massive ingots weighing 4-5 tons, connected in the center by a stainless steel tetrahedron, also called “hanging stones” by museum visitors. The sculpture dedicated to the archaeologist and anthropologist of Lithuanian origin, the pioneer of archaeomythology, who studied European Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures and formulated the Kurgan hypothesis, was created by Japanese artist Tei Kobayashi. The composition was called “YONI” – in memory of Marija Gimbutiene – one of the first site-specific works in the European Park (1994).
The sculptures are very diverse – from close to the ground to 10 m high, occupying 1 square meter or spread over an area of 3,135 square meters. The weight of all exhibits reaches about 1000 tons – that’s how much stone, wood, concrete and other materials were used to create an open-air museum, author G. Karosas.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the European Park in 2021, the activities of the park were reviewed in a new way. Over the years, the park has become more than a space for sculptures. European Park is a sustainable approach from the very beginning, and at the same time it is also an art “slow” concept. Various cultural events are organized in the European Park (“Poetry Spring” readings, artists’ meetings, conferences). For the convenience of visitors, approximately 7 km of trails have been built in the museum, and it is also possible to tour the park with mountain bikes that are rented here. The park is visited annually by more than 60,000 visitors. The activities of the European Park Museum have been recognized as an important cultural project by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. And art critic Michael Brenson has called the European Park “a bridge between different cultures”. G. Karosas wants the European park to become a bridge to art. It doesn’t matter if those who visit the park like art. What matters is what they leave here with. Everyone who has been to the European Park feels that nature + art (intelligence) + people (spectators) are a unified whole.
