"Regione Nubibus" offers a glimpse into Lithuania’s transition from a communist to a capitalist state, focusing on two peripheral areas: Šalčininkai - Divided Villages and Visaginas - Nuclear City. During the twentieth century, Lithuania experienced various phases: a period of independence, periods of Nazi and Soviet occupation, and some parts of contemporary Lithuania also belonged to Poland. After proclaiming independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, the initial euphoria of freedom in Lithuania was soon accompanied by the hardships of economic and ideological transition. Concepts such as state, democracy, identity, and culture underwent redefinition, while people’s minds, diets, and wardrobes were filled with little-known or unknown things. By utilising photography, video, sound recording, archival material and written narrative, I investigate personal and social memory as well as present existence in relation to politics and identity.
© The project is found by Gretė Tvarkūnaitė https://www.gretetvarkunaite.com.
- Photography, Film, Text Gretė Tvarkūnaitė
- Music Mantas Varnas
- Sound Design Mantas Varnas and Gretė Tvarkūnaitė
Special thanks to all the participants who gladly told me their stories when knocked on their home doors or asked in the streets. Without them, this project would not be possible.
Thanks to the Ignalina Nuclear Plant for giving me access to the plant, showing me around, and providing me with the archival material.
- Poetic quotations for Nuclear City chapter:
Visaginas city people (2015). Dawns of Visaginas: Visaginas people creativity almanac devoted to the Visaginas 40th anniversary. Retrieved from: „VISAGINO AUŠROS“