About

he Journey of “The Memory of Water” Project

The inception of the project “The Memory of Water” took place in September 2019, when visual artist and body painter Vilija Vitkute was invited to launch the European Cultural Capital Nida opening with a body painting performance centered around marine life protection of Baltic Sea. Vilija envisioned a large-scale stage performance that intertwined body painting and dance while delivering a powerful environmental message about water.

Team and Collaboration

Vilija Vitkute assembled a diverse team of over 30 artists from various disciplines, collaborating closely with choreographer, dancer and actress Malgorzata Sus. The project was underpinned by scientific and artistic research, involving partnerships with biologists and activists.

Adapting to Challenges

However, the pandemic and project partners corruption altered the plans for an immediate large performance-project rights and ownership. Instead, the artist shifted their focus to in-depth research, taking smaller, manageable steps in the creative process while engaging smaller groups of artists in various activities and different regions.

Expanding Horizons

Over the five years of the project’s journey, Vilija brought together multidisciplinary artists and established partnerships across regions such as Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Austria, and the Azores Islands. Collaborating with a diverse group of artists and local and international community organizations, they embarked on research trips for photography and video creation in Arctic locations, Iceland, Lofoten islands.

Artistic Expressions

The project evolved into a multifaceted exploration, resulting in photography, film, performances, exhibtions and lectures that were showcased in festivals and exhibitions in Austria and Sweden. In 2021 and 2023, the journey continued to Iceland to create both an art film and a documentary. Additionally, in 2022, Vilija returned to her daughters birthplace island -netwrok and community- Gotland, and explored the newly researched Azores Islands, which offered a diverse climate for the project.