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Travelling, getting educated, Vilnius University

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Isn't that what a tasty traveller as opposed to a tacky tourist does? Learn stuff? One is never too old to immerse oneself in subjects of passion (yeah yeah that too, stop tittering and just behave at the back).

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So it wouldn't happen in the UK where you can just rock up and walk straight into a university, no security no signing in, not sure what to expect, thinking it was going to be a rather gloomy and depressing visit, boring old paintings and all that.

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So here we are in the University of Vilnius, in the Aistėnai Hall, in the Faculty of Philology, admiring an extensive fresco called "The Seasons of the Year" by artist Petras Repšys.

I learnt a new word here "philology", I take most words that end in -ology with a pinch of salt, sort of like a made up word for people who can't get a proper degree to secure a proper job.

"Philology", the branch of knowledge that deals with the structure, historical development, and relationships of a language or languages.

Fuck me, academia for academia's sake. I rest my case!

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I'm just here to look at boobies

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There was an awful lot of superb auto-erotica painting, or porn for posh people if you like. Let's invent a new word: Pornology

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The ceiling was mainly a dark blue colour to create an illusion of more space in the low-ceilinged area. Whereas the walls mainly ~~rich cream ~~ magnolia and beige.

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The Seasons of the Year, was started in 1976 and was completed in 1984, it is designed to to commemorate extinct Baltic tribes and their mythology.

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I guess the painter had a very vivid immagination

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There seems to be a story in every little montage

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It looks very dark subject matter very thought provoking but at the end of the day a different kind of art.

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In the USSR pornography was illegal, suppressed, and classed as anti-Soviet with production and distribution criminal offences It existed almost entirely as an underground black market for smuggled foreign magazines and videotapes, or paint on walls maybe?

Thanks for visiting my page, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. this is Stephen aka, @grindle, happily retired, travelling the world snapping away. My weapon of choice is currently a Nikon Z6.jpg

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[//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 54.68256 lat 25.28774 long d3scr))

Comments · 7

@melan11e(67)· 18d
It's fascinating how a historical fresco from the '70s and '80s about extinct Baltic tribes ends up sparking such a hilarious debate on "posh art" versus Soviet era taboos. You're spot on a true traveller doesn't just snap photos; they learn weird words and decipher dark frescoes in university halls.
@blingit(69)· 18d
well, that was interesting... lol

When we travelled Europe, it was mostly to learn about history of all things, (well that and try and drink every type of national drink. It would be rude not to sample local delicacies would it not?)

and being rather fond of art, we ended up in many old buildings and museums. Can't say i every saw anything quite like this though..

It reminds me of the little wooden figure things that you bend about to put into poses when you are painting the human figure, like when you are trying to get body proportions right?

however these... welll..... im rather sure the artist has taken a bit of artistic license here... Im not quite sure what to think.

happy travels.
@latinowinner(58)· 18d
ancient cultures
@admirableprezens(56)· 18d

It looks very dark subject matter very thought provoking but at the end of the day a different kind of art.

Yeah no shit! Those are very....interesting art displays. Types of things you'd spend hours watching even if it creeps you out a bit.
@molometer(72)· 18d
That place is wild. When I was looking at the paintings I thought that they must be ancient except for the weird lines on the bodies. To find out they are fairly modern was a surprise.

I noticed that the women were pouring some kind of liquid? What's that all about lol.

Fascinating place Stephen. I think @livinguktaiwan is in that neck of the woods atm. I think I read her post om Vilnius the other day?
@avdesing(80)· 19d
Perhaps if it were regarded as art, that’s all it would be and it wouldn’t be considered illegal. It really is a very different kind of art; I’d never seen anything quite like it before. What’s more, the colour of the ceiling and walls really brings out the art, and it’s true that you can see how each space features a scene that tells a story, as if they were portraits of something that had actually happened.

At first it looked as though I was inside a Baroque church, but I was actually very surprised. Being in that place must have been spectacular. You’ve shared some very original art, and the artist certainly had a vivid imagination. Thank you very much and a big hug!!🤗

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@worldmappin(81)· 19d
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