The Message? Photo

Photographer’s Note

One of the strangest attractions to have been thought up by anyone, it seems to me, is Grutas Park in Lithuania. A theme park with a difference, it chronicles the Societ occupation of the country since the second world war, with recreated buildings, some containing libraries of political literature, artifacts of all kinds form te Soviet era, and many collected artworks and statues. It was collected by a canned mushroom mogul, who bought much of the works as they were being discarded, and decided to preserve this important (but wished to be forgetten) piece of recent social and politcal history. The art works in soviet constructivist style seem to have their message completely subverted when presented in the context of the musuem, which pulls no punches when describing the privations placed on the nation during the era.

See my treklens account for another shot of the place.

Galeota, ChrisJ, everlasting, eleparc has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10334) 2005-07-31 16:13

Hello Richard. Here's a red wave in spite of the predominant blue colors. Beyond the artistic or symbolic reference, this recalls a somehow less jolly (and democratic) period of the XXth century. Architecture, and any other type of artistic interior decoration expression, was never a strong plus of the Soviet occupation. You've put it under Artwork category...that's rather courageous from you. I think the guy who did this deserved the Gulag...just for a few weeks I mean... nice detail anyway, glad to see you around here..

andriusc (54) 2005-07-31 16:56

Two points for you Richard, for visiting Lithuania again :) Are you still here?

kevinos (6927) 2005-07-31 23:23

Nice to see you back on TE, Richard.You do seem to get to some interesting places. This is an interesting and nostalgic picture form a period when people had ideals -however suspect- instead of only products. Can you imagin the culture of Haliburton, Mc Donnalds and Enron producing anything of esthetic merit? What monuments will Bush and Blair leave when their sorry time is over? I suppose it will be an exhausted and polluted planet and a fiber-glass statue of Colonel Sanders. Great picture. kevin

ChrisJ (70165) 2005-08-01 4:15

Hi Richard

An unusual 'stained glass window', from this Soviet museum, that espouses the failed rhetoric of Communism, as a system of governance, with religion as 'the opium of the masses'. The irony of the comparison, between State & religion, is obvious. I like the abstraction, color & graphism. Well done.

eleparc (24059) 2005-08-01 13:12

i quite like this piece of soviet constructivist art. your shot is excellent!
notwithstanding its political implications, altogether with fascist art pieces, i find this artistic period quite interesting, even thrillingi might venture to say...
thanks for sharing
Eric

coco (27820) 2005-09-17 3:47

Hi Richard.
Nice shot and an interesting subject. I like how you has captured the light through the glass.
Well seen.