On May 16th, the “Taiwan Two and Two” photography exhibition opened in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, attracting the attention of visitors with devout believers and dedicated working women. The exhibition features various Taiwanese street scenes and the diverse lifestyles of the Taiwanese people.
Curated by photographer Marius Jovaiša, the exhibition showcases works by himself, Saulius Paukštys, and Taiwanese photographers Yang Zheyi and Pan Jingrui, presenting a vivid portrayal of life in Taiwan through the lenses of these four photographers.
The “Taiwan Two and Two” photography exhibition will tour four cities in Lithuania, starting with the opening ceremony at Panorama, a high-end shopping mall in Vilnius, before moving to Kaunas, Šiauliai, and Klaipėda. This provides Lithuanian citizens in different cities the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Taiwan’s beauty.
The curator, Marius Jovaiša, believes that the people of both Taiwan and Lithuania deeply cherish democracy and freedom, and share a similar work ethic. Through this exhibition, he hopes to introduce Taiwanese culture to more Lithuanians. The photography subjects depict the diversity of Taiwanese society, including temple celebrations, people’s work and daily life, and even interesting scenes from Taiwan’s presidential election campaigns.
Saulius Paukštys, a pioneer in Lithuanian contemporary photography, goes beyond traditional boundaries with his “Kaleidoscope” series, showcasing Taiwan’s exuberant vitality through rich color processing. Many exhibition-goers closely examine Paukštys’ photographs of signs and shops, eager to get a glimpse of Taiwanese society.
Taiwan’s Representative to Lithuania, Wang Xuehong, remarked during the opening ceremony that seeing these photos made her feel “homesick.” She was pleased that through this exhibition, mainstream Lithuanian society could “see” Taiwan, while also providing Taiwanese expatriates a way to alleviate their homesickness.
Wang Xuehong believes that through the lenses of Lithuanian and Taiwanese photographers, Lithuanians are gaining a preliminary understanding of Taiwan. Despite the diverse themes and presentation styles of each photographer, they all convey Taiwan’s vibrant societal vitality. She told reporters, “Freedom and democracy are deeply rooted in our daily lives.” These photos not only showcase beautiful compositions and sceneries but also convey various messages about Taiwanese society.
Yang Zheyi also attended the opening ceremony in Lithuania. A former renowned badminton player who studied conservation during university, his photography works reflect conflicts and reflections between people and the environment, offering profound insights.
Wang Xuehong emphasizes that without the backdrop of freedom and democracy, works like Yang Zheyi’s would be difficult to produce. The artworks in this exhibition faithfully depict Taiwan. She states, “Every democratic country will have various voices within, and this is the essence of democracy. We should embrace this diversity.” Despite recent noise surrounding Lithuania’s presidential election affecting bilateral relations with Taiwan, Wang Xuehong stresses, “Don’t forget, there are many voices supporting Taiwan among the people.”
Among the attendees at the exhibition opening ceremony were Mantas Adomėnas, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and current Chairman of the Lithuania-Taiwan Forum, Vygintas Gasparavičius, Deputy Minister of the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, and representatives from Mykolas Romeris University and international relations consultants.
Mantas Adomėnas, who has visited Taiwan multiple times and was awarded the “Friendship Diplomacy Medal” by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, believes that there are many aspects in which Taiwan and Lithuania can learn from each other. He encourages Lithuanians to familiarize themselves with Taiwanese culture, stating, “We are both under the shadow of aggressiveness and authoritarianism, which has nurtured a vibrant free culture intertwined with traditional art.”
Adomėnas appreciates Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage, advanced technological development, and the fusion of innovation and tradition, traits that Lithuanians admire. He is confident that Lithuanian audiences will greatly appreciate Taiwanese culture and enjoy the “Taiwan Two and Two” photography exhibition. ◇