Carnival collector teaches Brussels contract

Unique everywhere

« I haven't seen Mardi Gras with knights tournaments anywhere else, » says G. Pikutienė, who added another one from several Sardinia towns this year. Born and raised in Kaunas and now living in Brussels for 20 years, a woman travels around different countries while photographing carnivals.

How many of them have already visited, it is difficult to count because they were photographed in three towns in Belgium alone, several in Germany, Malta, Spain, and other countries. Of course, exceptional is the famous Venice mask fiesta. Sometimes you don't even have to go somewhere – the carnival comes: Venice mask makers, who come together in the Regards Venitiens group, traditionally come to Bruges, one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium in the middle of winter, and walk around the city all day. In the center of Brussels, G. Pikutiene managed to capture the mini -carnival of the Bolivians living there. Of course, I would like to see such a way in Bolivia ever.

Dress code: Benche (Belgium) carnival men with spectacular peacock feather hats, clogs, and clothing is straw, so it looks like live mars. Photo by Personal Archive

This year, she chose Sardinia because this Italian island is famous for even a few festivals that have preserved old traditions. For example, one of the most important events of the Oristan Town Carnival is SA Sartiglia, a knight tournament in 1546. Greta says she hasn't heard that they would be held elsewhere on Mardi Gras. 120 masked horsemen compete, who will succeed, with a full speed, a spear to a tin star hanging on the ribbons at the height of their heads. The culmination of the celebration – La Pariglia: teams of three riders, horses at full speed, make stunning acrobatic tricks.

I like everything that is colored, bright, festive, and they are carnivals, so I want to diversify your life.

In the carnival of another Mamojada town of Sardinia, alongside the Lithuanian Mardi Gras, the dressing -ups – with devils -like masks, sheep's fur, although the bells on the backs were mixed. The town Hall Square was spinning the wheels of dancers, even grandmothers, grandparents, with their hands clinging and playing in the middle and playing the harmonicist. Then he brought the boilers for food and distributed it to everyone.

Quite different carnivals in Germany. G. Pikutienė says that she and her family have lived in Bonn, just on the street where the carnival marching march. Cologne carnivals are more modern, there more politics. However, at that time, her little daughter was very pleased that the march participants passed the candy when they gathered.

After moving to Belgium, he discovered that it was not only archaic in Lithuania that preserved the old traditions of Mardi Gras. They are different in each town. The most famous Belgian carnival is held in Bench Town. It strictly adheres to traditions. The outfit of his participants is the same – men with spectacular peacock feather hats, clogs, and clothes are straw, so it looks like live mars. Usually only men are preparing for the carnival, but this year, for the first time in history, this is also allowed to women.

In Belgium, people are even thick through carnivals. These are huge celebrations, reports on television and radio. Everyone guesses what the weather will be, the day of the celebration has been announced from the morning all channels, as peacock feathers' hats are sensitive to the weather, and they are often poor on Mardi Gras, so the annual dilemma – whether the change will be with peacock hats or not.

Emotions: G. Pikutiene likes to photograph their moods. Photo by Personal Archive

To feel the mood

Why carnivals? “I like everything that is colored, bright, festive, and they are carnivals, so I want to diversify your life. In addition, I really enjoy taking people at events, and carnivals are the opportunity to legally, not listening, and take pictures of people, ”smiles Greta.

She says she wants to see as many unique things as possible at these celebrations, old traditions. If you go to Venice, of course you want to see the background of the masks, but in the background of the Venice, and the portraits of this carnival participants see how many different details they contain, how much careful work has been inserted.

“But in the photos, only the images, and when you are there, you feel the atmosphere, you see how people are happy. I like to photograph the viewers of the march and catch their moods. Mostly I go to the carnivals alone because who should wait for the patience to take pictures, but I never feel lonely in them, even if I don't talk to anyone, « says G. Pikutienė.

She was accompanied by a camera since childhood. “Daddy had a ribbon camera to be not born yet. We highlighted his photos, gave it to me. When I was studying at Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Conservatoire, I took pictures of my fellow students. Then the children were born, a photographer, and then travel images. I noticed that I wanted to take pictures more and more, ”recalls Greta.

If she is taking something seriously, she decided to learn: started with private lessons with photographer Remigijus Zolubas, then completed his distance studies at the New York Institute of Photography, still developing in courses. But, she says, the most important thing is practice, as much as possible.

Her shots are not just carnivals. Has already accumulated the exhibition size collection through the view of the car window. Sometimes they go out in the morning to capture nature, birds in some swamp. If you travel with your family, plan where you will stop to make it comfortable to catch images as the sun flow or descend, so many images of the world have accumulated. However, Greta's family does not boast of many of her portraits: the woman laughs that, as the saying is the saying, without shoes, only sometimes forced everyone to take a picture.

Photos of G. Pikutienė are also exhibited at exhibitions. Recently, the Brussels could see her cycle « Carnival Faces and Colors ». In the joint with other photographers, the exhibition had a few meters of walls to exhibit photos, so he hung a larger format of photos, and decided to fill the remaining small area with toddlers that could be viewed through the magnifying glass. Says the idea of ​​looking at Greta Skaraitienė, a Lithuanian photographer, who organized all such exhibition.

Photos of G. Pikutienė constantly profit laurels in her workplace in the internal competitions, and have won international competitions CEWE and E1R1 (to which) awards.

In Lithuanian: G. Pikutienė captured Italian photographer Mario Salerno by conducting the Cantare Cathedral of the Cantare Council of the Council of the EU. Lithuanian songs are also in the repertoire. Photo by Personal Archive

Sings in Lithuanian

Photography is not the only hobby of Greta. It is the General Secretariat of the Cantare Choir, which is joined by the EU Council of the Council, where the Secretarial General of different countries, mainly translators. The choir has been in existence for five years.

Last year, about half of them participated in the Lithuanian Jubilee Song and Dance Festival. Choristers from Estonia, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Hungary, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Germany dressed in national costumes of their nations, not only learned how to pronounce Lithuanian lyrics correctly, but also deepened their meaning. According to G. Pikutienė, when translating a Samogitian song on a military theme, which is especially relevant, even with excitement, even the skin is horrified. There were also funny situations. The repertoire includes many patriotic songs and a bit funny when people of different nations sing: « We are born to Lithuanians. »

“They liked everything at the Song Festival – both atmosphere and Lithuanian songs. He says he has already been a date after four years of another song festival because he really wants to come again. There are now a few Lithuanian songs in the choir repertoire: « Liepa grew up », « Chute », says Greta. Brussels media was also interested in a unique international choir that learned to sing even Lithuanian conventional.

G. Pikutienė – a professional choir conductor, has graduated from Professor Vytautas Miškinis at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, singing the choir « Young Music », who worked for a couple of seasons in Kaunas Musical Theater Choir – Choir leader assistant. But leading the choir, like photography, is just a hobby. Greta says that he rehearses with colleagues from the EU Council in the workplace, sacrificing time for lunch, before concerts; When he was preparing for the Song Festival, they also gathered in the evenings. « We are playing freely, unprofitable, but very serious, because everyone knows that I can't do it otherwise, » says the choir leader.

In Brussels, she also led a Lithuanian children's singing studio for nine years. He started with concerts, then staged very serious musical performances, although the children were little ones and the eldest were freshmen. It was her hobby too, but she took a lot of time because she did everything alone – even the stage clothes, the man helped to make decorations when needed, and made music and lyrics.

In the photos, only images, and when you are there, you feel atmosphere, you see how people are happy. I like to photograph the viewers of the march and catch their moods.

“This is my way: if I do, it is serious; I wanted more, or maybe others seemed to just be enough to make a break. I had three children myself, it became too difficult, ”explains Greta, why did the Brussels Lithuanians sing. However, she is pleased that the Lithuanian Cultural Center has begun to form at the time of deciding to abandon it and other leaders are now successfully working with children.

And brain battles

G. Pikutienė has two diplomas: choral conducting and German philology. He also entered the Master's degree in the European Studies Program of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University, but did not acquire a third diploma because he went to work for the EU Council. Back in 2003, he participated in the selection competition of employees, winning and working in Brussels for 21 years. He started with the assistant position in the Lithuanian language translation unit, then decided to work in other units because she said she was always interested in what is new. She is now the Coordinator of the English Translation Division.

“Sometimes I think about who I am too human: I still want what is new. When I was little, I wanted to become everything. On television, the circus shows, juggle and says – and I want, one -wheeler – I want it, but it only ends. But even now, I see something new and hook me, ”smiles Greta.

Interest in everything helps her in intellectual games. Maybe who is familiar with her face from LRT. G. Pikutienė once competed in the LRT show « Who and why », went to a week's superfinal. She then talked to her to come to the Golden Mind, played a couple of times, and won third place in the Summer League. Prior to that, the Lithuanian team participated in the « Mind Fights » organized by Robertas Petrauskas. Unfortunately, when the Covid-19 pandemic began, they suppressed.

“This should be put on my dad. In our home, as probably many, the book shelf was lined up with encyclopedias that helped to solve the very serious crossword puzzles printed in the Lighthouse magazine. We raced with Dad, who will overcome them first. The resolution could be sent to the editorial office. I remember there was a lot of joy when I was first mentioned that I was solved correctly, ”says Greta.

Her family likes to play intellectual games at home in the Sofa League. It is true that the houses are already a bit, because the two older children returned to live in Lithuania. Has any of the trio infected with mom's hobbies – sing, take pictures, compete in protests or collect carnivals?

I was fascinated: Cantare choristers from different European countries liked everything – both atmosphere and Lithuanian songs – at the Lithuanian Song Festival. Four years later, they want to come again. Photo by Personal Archive

There is always a lot of music at the Pikučiai House. A man is a musician, works in a German school, has music groups, and builds musicals with children. The daughter actively played and sang. The smallest chose the violin himself, but he no longer takes the risk. Now the passion of two elders is film production, both of them work in the field, and how much they also contributed to the Southern Chronicle.

G. Pikutiene, who has not finished managing photos from Sardinia's carnivals, is already dreaming of others, saying that they are usually held about Mardi Gras, so they cannot be everywhere at once. She already has a plan for next year.

“This hobby was probably formed from the first Mardi Gras seen: there was eighty something, I lived in Kaunas, and I was a schoolgirl. Together with Vita, we went to Rumšiškės through the frozen Kaunas Lagoon. What a fun celebration, what a wonderful Morse! It was the first carnival I saw. I still prepare to return to Lithuania on Mardi Gras. I have already checked next year's dates, ”says Greta.