The Paths of the Spirit
2020. Šiauliai, Lithuania

The exhibition of a young Ukrainian sculptor Alexey Leonov in Šiauliai, Lithuania has opened  on January 23 and will be presented at Chaim Frenkel Villa (74 Vilniaus St., Šiauliai).

The exhibition, entitled “The Paths of the Spirit,” presents 27 sculptures of the author. Before the opening of the exhibition, the author met with the mayor of Šiauliai, representatives of the city of Khmelnitsky and the Embassy of Ukraine took part in the meeting as well.

Alexey Leonov, a sculptor from Ukraine presenting his debut exhibition in Šiauliai, was invited by Šiauliai City Municipality. The guest was welcomed by Šiauliai City Mayor Artūras Visockas. The meeting was also attended by Adviser to the Ambassador of Ukraine Serhiy Vasylenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of Humanistic Pedagogical Culture and Education professor Stanislav Kruk, Artem Romasiukov, Head of Culture and Tourism Department of Khmelnitsky City, Tetiana Rozhok and Yuliia Stupar, representatives of the Department of Economy and Development Agency. The guests met with the director of Šiauliai Aušros Museum Raimundas Balza, deputies of Šiauliai Domas Griškevičius and Egidijus Elijošius.

“I am very pleased that our cooperation with Ukraine has allowed us to receive this exhibition here, we are the first city in Lithuania to exhibit the work of Alexei Leonov. We see that this is not just a paper friendship. I believe that the people of Šiauliai will really enjoy this opportunity and I am very pleased with the philosophical concept of the exhibition, that culture is the basis uniting all nations of the world,” said Mayor Artūras Visockas.

Representatives of the city of Khmelnytsky, which has a permanent exhibition of Alexei Leonov, conveyed greetings to Artūras Visockas from the mayor of the city, who was friends with Šiauliai. The guests welcomed the growing friendship between children and youth art groups, and expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation in other areas as well. Next year, the town will be 20 years old.

“It is important not only for me to present an aesthetic work of art that people will admire, I want the works to broaden the viewers’ consciousness. Visitors of  the exhibition should receive a wealth of unwritten information and positive energy. This exhibition is educational, non-commercial, and I can present it in other countries thanks to patrons who understand the importance of this art mission,” commented Alexey Leonov.

It has become ordinary for Alexey Leonov’s exhibitions not to be specifically advertised, he likes when people come to see his works after learning about such an opportunity from previous visitors.

The Mayor of Šiauliai was delighted that Raimundas Balza was pleased to welcome Alexei Leonov’s sculpture exhibition in an exclusive space – Chaim Frenkel’s Villa.

The initiator of the exhibition is Silvija Baranauskienė, Director of the Šiauliai May School, and the organizer is the Ukrainian Association of Humanistic Pedagogy Culture and Education.