International creative symposium MALLONY

The international creative symposium “MALONNY: Marijampole, London, New York: migration of ideas” has already become an annual, traditional event that contributes to nurturing the uniqueness of the city of Marijampole in a modern way through the exchange of ideas, cooperation, volunteering, and increasing the accessibility of works of art. This is a great example of European or even world culture influencing the culture of a Lithuanian city, changing the city’s identity and vice versa. The migration of ideas is IN and OUT. Foreign painters, artists, musicians – meet with representatives of the town’s culture, the community – exchange experiences and their competences.

The tenth time was in 2023. During the years of the symposium, in the discussions with the community, many new ideas of urban development were discovered, related to the artistic expression of the community and the city, art, volunteering, community involvement, and the formation of elements of the city’s identity.

Placemaking principles are used to create the structure of this symposium, including foreign artists who paint on the walls of buildings, urban youth through volunteering, assisting artists in their work, resident and creative artists in the city, who get the opportunity to paint the same artwork in urban spaces as their foreign colleagues.

Community involvement in MALONNY’s activities is encouraged from the very first year through communication with creators, not only painters, but also artists from other fields, architects, philosophers, historians, film and fashion creators – forums are organized during the symposium – discussions, opening and presentation events. Painting on the walls of city buildings is the main artistic narrative of the project, which gives cultural value to a public destination, reveals or creates elements of local identity, and brings culture closer to society.

MALONNY helps to create unique spaces in the courtyards of the old town, enlivens the entrances of schools, parks and squares, creates an incredible image on the water, whose photographs have traveled around the world, appeared on the cover of National Geographic and still receive thousands of views on social networks.

The work of artist Ray Bartkus “Flowing Life” was painted on the old Marijampole dam. The drawing itself is drawn in reverse and its true order is reflected only in the water. Depending on the natural conditions, the reflection ripples or is bright, and sometimes disappears altogether. The artist hopes that every passer-by will discover something new here. This drawing, like the days of our lives, is different every time.

Marijampole Tourism Information Center in 2017 presented and annually updates MALONNY route information on the Internet, mobile applications and printed leaflets, and marks the drawings with information boards. Drawings have become part of the city’s identity, recognizable symbols of Marijampole, used for communication and presentation of the city in Lithuania and the world.

The city community and the art world appreciate the annual events organized during the MALONNY Symposium. Participants from various countries allow this Southwest Lithuanian city to feel the reverberations of global world centers (London, New York), and also promote the tradition of volunteering in the community, discussions and effective publicity. One of the events of the symposium is its opening performance, which combines different art forms – music, art, architecture, dance. During the performance, music is performed by various artists, famous musicians from the city of Marijampole, Lithuania, and even artists from all over the world. During this symposium, a synthesis of the term takes place – each one is no less important and interesting. In a modern form, against the background of bright and exclusive spaces – the Marijampole city brass band sounds modern and the children’s dance groups sound modern and organic – everything combines into a single layer of culture – creates a unique identity of the city of Marijampole. At the same time, it is a new impulse to find new cultural ideas.

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