Čiurlionis Photography Makes Spanish Debut at Fotonoviembre

The 18th International Photography Biennial, Fotonoviembre, recently opened an exhibition called 'Prelude to Freedom' at the Eduardo Westerdahl Contemporary Art Museum (Macew) in Puerto de la Cruz. Organized by TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, this show is a significant event because it's the first time the photographic work of Lithuanian artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875-1911) has been displayed in Spain. Curated by Vilma Dobilaite, the exhibition celebrates the 150th anniversary of Čiurlionis's birth, marking what's known as the 'Čiurlionis Year' and 'Čiurlionis Path' in Spain. Bringing his photography to the country offers a new look at his legacy and highlights the timeless importance of creative freedom.

Many notable figures attended the opening. These included José Carlos Acha, Councillor for Culture and Museums of the Cabildo de Tenerife; Sergio Rubira, artistic director of TEA; Desiré Díaz, Councillor for Culture of Puerto de la Cruz; Daina Kamarauskienė, director of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum; Nicolas Llorens Lebeau, director of ValenciaPhoto; Carlos Alberto Lorenzo, honorary consul of Lithuania in the Canary Islands; Agneta Vansavičienė, president of the Lithuanian Community in Spain; Antonio Javier González Pérez, president of the Institute of Hispanic Studies of the Canary Islands (IEHC); Celestino Celso Hernández, director of Macew; and the exhibition's curator, Vilma Dobilaite.

'Prelude to Freedom' is open to the public free of charge until December 28. Visitors can see the exhibition Monday to Friday, from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM. It features 40 photographs from an album called ANAPA 1905, which Čiurlionis took during his time in the Caucasus region. The collection largely focuses on the sea, using it as a symbol of freedom – a recurring idea in his art.

Čiurlionis lived a short but incredibly productive life, passing away at just 35. He left behind an amazing artistic legacy, including nearly 400 musical compositions and 300 paintings, along with many illustrations, photographs, short stories, poems, diaries, and letters. He was deeply devoted to his homeland, Lithuania, and dreamed of its freedom. In 1906, he dedicated all his past and future work to Lithuania, which was then under Russian occupation. Sadly, he died in 1911, before his dream of an independent Lithuania became a reality.

This 18th edition of Fotonoviembre runs until February 22 in some parts. It showcases the work of over a hundred artists across Tenerife, featuring around twenty exhibitions in eighteen different venues and halls. These locations span six municipalities, covering the metropolitan area, the north, and the south of the island.

Fotonoviembre's theme this year is 'The Vertigo of Images.' This title reflects on the complexities of modern visual culture and the discussions sparked by the widespread sharing of images in the age of artificial intelligence. The main exhibition at TEA, curated by Marta Dahó Masdemont, shares this title. Additionally, Dalia de la Rosa curated the 'Artists in Selection' and 'Atlántica Colectivas' sections.