A Proposal for a Cultural Deed in Vilnius 2009: Same-Sex MarriageImage copyright: Sebastian Boulter
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What Are You Doing Here Right Now?, U.M.I., The Republic of Užupis/Vilnius, Lithuania 2007
A site-specific installation in an artist built White Bridge between Vilnius City Center and a micro-nation/freetown Užupis. It was designed to challenge the city dwellers and audience of Užupis to think about their relationship and role with the oppression of sexual minorities in Vilnius. I wrote the following press statement as part of the inauguration of the piece: A small installation by finnish artist Mikko Lipiainen will be shown in Užupis district on the White Bridge in front of the U.M.I. Galera on tuesday 10th of July 2007 'A Proposal for a Cultural Deed in Vilnius 2009 -Same-Sex Marriage' will be a comment against the homophobic attitude of Vilnius City which banned the display of a rainbow flag, an action planned by local gay activists, in the heart of the city and decided to reject an European Union sponsored campaign for tolerance in May 2007. The installation will be a small cheerful lock painted with the colours of the Rainbow flag which is an international sign of sexual diversity. This lock will propose a same-sex marriage to be arranged in the European Culture Capital Vilnius 2009 as an expression of supporting attitude towards cultural diversity. The installation communicates with a recently developed tradition among the married couples to attach a lock with their names on it to the two bridges leading to the Užupis district. The installation can be seen clearly from one of the bridges. Užupis is a district of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, partially located in the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name means "on the other side of a river"; that river is the Vilnia River which gave Vilnius its name. The region has been popular with artists for some time, and is often compared with Montmartre in Paris. The district houses art galleries, artists' workshops, and popular cafés. The district declared itself an independent republic (the Republic of Užupis) in 1997. In the sixth sentence of its constitution stands "Man has the right to love". |
One of the bridges leading to Užupis, popular among the married couples.
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Locks attached to the bridges leading to Užupis by married couples.
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Soon after its installation, the rainbow lock was teared down by some and thrown in the river with a cross and `NO` drawn on it. Image copyright: Sebastian Boulter
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