Rūta Rimšelienė: In the Shoes of Lithuanian Partisans…

In Rūta Rimšelienė’s sensory exhibition, the history of Lithuania’s partisans comes to life not just through sight, but also through smell, sound, and touch. This immersive experience invites you to not only see but feel the echoes of footsteps, the creaking of prison doors, the jingling of keys, the breath of hunted partisans, the barking of dogs, and the whisper of prayers. The air is filled with scents—kerosene masking footprints, wax used by cobblers, the cheap cologne of Soviet officials, and the earthy smell of Lithuanian forests.

At the heart of the exhibition lies the footwear of partisans—boots, cobbler’s tools, preparations, and authentic accessories, each with its own story. Here, you’ll find shoes with hidden compartments, traces of camouflage, or stamps embedded in the soles. Some of the exhibits are deliberately destroyed, ensuring they didn’t fall into the hands of the occupiers before death. One of the stories becomes a silent but powerful reflection—a meeting with conscience.

Each of the twelve exhibits tells an authentic historical experience. They can be touched, measured, and even worn. These aren’t just artifacts; they are stories of loyalty, pain, betrayal, love, care, and hardship. The entire exhibition is a sensitive and artistically poignant narrative of our nation’s survival, resistance, and longing for freedom.

This isn’t just an exhibition—it’s an experience that unveils the image of undying human dignity, the strength of the spirit, and the quest for freedom. It is dedicated to everyone—Vilnius residents or visitors—as a reminder of the horrors of the Soviet regime, a warning, and an invitation to protect what was gained at such a great cost.

The exhibition culminates with the thirteenth story—the story of freedom that can never be destroyed. A story about sacrifices that were not in vain. About eternity that lives in our memory.

Join us for the exhibition opening on May 7th at 18:00, with the author of the works, in the Lukiškės Prison courtyard.

Project Idea by: Rūta Rimšelienė

Project Realization by: Gedimina Šalkauskaitė-Statulevičienė, Marius Zavadskis, Evaldas Olberkis, Vytautas Gendvilas, Juozas Šalkauskas, Remigijus Sabulis, Aistė Tarabildienė, Aleksandras Nesvat

Project Funded by: The Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania

Exhibition Partners: Charity and Support Fund “Be Kaltės,” Lukiškės Prison 2.0, The Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania, “Shot Academy” Foundation, Lithuanian Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Admission is free! Open daily from 12:00 to 20:00.