About

“The Memory of Water” is a collaborative project between bodypainter Vilija Vitkute and choreographer Malgorzata Sus. It brings together different art disciplines, such as bodypainting, dance, sound composition, film, photography, visual effects and scenography, and connects them with environmental research on water and education about climate change. It is a long-term project and it is going to result in photo and video exhibitions, art and documentary films, a performance, lectures and workshops, and in the creation of the project's headquarters where artists and other guests can have a space for research and creative exchange. There are over 30 international artists involved in the project and it is being created in the Nordic region to later tour and reach audiences around the world. 

The creation of the project started in September 2019. Since then Vilija and Malgorzata built the vision of a stage performance (to be premiered in 2024), gathered an international team of artists to collaborate, established connections with environmental organisations, and created first visual materials for the project - at the end of September 2020 they travelled to the Arctic, Lofoten Islands, where breathtaking landscapes became an inspiration and a set up for bodypainting, dance, photography and films.

"Sea Turtle"

artwork created by artist Johannes Stoetter

Sea Turtle was created in Lofoten Norway in October 2020 during the art residence for The Memory of Water project. The artists group: bodypainter Johannes Stoetter, choreographer/dancer Małgorzata Suś, film director/visual artist Vilija Vitkute, documentary filmmaker - Linnea Grimstedt and accompanying them Norwegian composer Tine Surel Lange, created an illusionary performance on the Utakleiv beach - a sea turtle became alive in a human form. The project speaks about the connection between human and sea animals, and brings attention towards the sea life crisis. 

About the creation

Artists Vilija Vitkute and Malgorzata Sus created their first work together in Portugal in 2017. They felt immediately connected through common artistic vision, love for nature and care for the environment. They continued collaboration within other projects in different places in the world, in the 2019 winning championship in the World Bodypainting Festival in Klagenfurt, where Vilija competed as an artist in the Special Effects category and Malgorzata was the model. In August 2018 they created a dance body painting performance for the Menuo Juodaragis Festival in Lithuania, in collaboration with musician Andrius Mamontovas. Shortly after Vilija and Malgorzata initiated the project BE WATER which later developed into The Memory of Water, that for over one year now is growing regardless of the pandemic and art world crisis. 

First phase of The Memory of Water creation process took place in Nida, Lithuania, in September 2019, where Vilija and Malgorzata, who initially was also involved in the project. The artists went through research and discussions to come up with the vision and plan of the future performance. In 2019 and 2020 the main creators have been working constantly on developing the project script, gathering the artists team, researching about water in Baltic and Nordic regions, finding financial support for the project to make it happen in the best quality.

In September 2020 Vilija and Malgorzata, with a new partner, Swedish theatre director and documentary filmmaker Linnea Grimstedt, established a company The Memory Of Water Productions, based on Gotland, Sweden. Since then they work independently, developing the project on different levels - from artistic creation, through environmental engagement and collaborations, to production, management and promotion.

Recently the artists opened an online shop where everyone worldwide can get an unique Arctic Bodypainting Calendar 2021, as well as other prints and postcards. In the same time started the online booking platform, where a wide offer of The Memory Of Water workshops and lectures is available. 

Friendship and artistic connection between Vilija and Malgorzata, as well as their strong concern about the environment protection, make them undertake impossible missions, and let the dreams come true!

Workshops, lectures AND MORE

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Art residence in Lofoten 2020

About / Artworks and Videos

“The Memory of Water” journey began in the Arctic on the Lofoten Islands in the end of September 2020. The international team of female artists - the main creators Vilija Vitkute, bodypainter and visual director, and Malgorzata Sus, dancer, choreographer and project writer, together with documentary filmmaker Linnea Grimstedt, discovered breathtaking landscapes of Lofoten and found peace and stillness to reflect and focus on creation.

Project funders

Project partners