In 2022, we celebrate the centenary of the birth of John Mekos. Not only Lithuania is mentioned, but also the whole world, after all, J. Mekas was a citizen of the world. Born in 1922 Semeniškiai, Biržai district, 1944. together with his brother Adolf went to the West. He spent five years in various labor and refugee camps in Germany, and in 1949 emigrated to the USA and settled in New York.
For the first time, J. Mekas, together with his brother Adolf and his wife Pola Chapelle, returned to their hometown Semeniški only in 1971, 27 years after leaving. It is hard to imagine what it meant for the brothers to return to their homeland after so many years. The moments of their return and their feelings are recorded by both Meccans on film and they create a film each. The longing for the native land and home, as well as the values of life instilled by the parents, are perfectly revealed in the writings of the Meka brothers and in the 2019. in the published letters to the mother and other household members - Life time*.
The returned J. Mekas is also recorded. in 1971 - photographers Antanas Sutkus and Viktoras Kapočius, and in 1977 – Algimantas Kunčius and John's wife Hollis Melton. This exhibition is made up of these moments, and many photographs are exhibited for the first time.
While still in Germany, in 1948 J. Mekas writes the first collection of poems, Semeniški idylls, in which he puts all his longing and love for his native land. In this exhibition, which we named after the collection of poems, you have a unique opportunity to hear all 26 poems read by J. Meko himself.
The designer and curator of the exhibition is Tomas Ivanauskas.
The exhibition is organized by the Lithuanian National Museum of Fine Arts and the Jonas Mekos Center for Visual Arts.
We thank Antanas Sutkaus Photo Archive, Algimantas Kunčius, Tomas Kapočias, National Museum of Lithuania, Central Archive of Lithuania, Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature, Sebastian Mekus, Hollis Melton for the photographs.
Jonas and Adolfas Mekai "Life's Lai(š)kai". Vilnius: Post Scriptum. Littera", 2019 320 p. Comp. Kęstutis Pikūnas.
