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By Jack Twiss Quarles van Ufford. Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vilnius, Lithuania
Some exhibitions leave you behind with more questions than answers. And isn’t that what museums and art are supposed to do. To challenge your preconceptions about something and encourage you to question those. Not necessarily to change your views, but at least to let you realize that different views leading to different choices are out there. In the past and today.
The exhibition “The Sweet Life of the Nomenklatura” in Vilnius is a key example of this principle. On show are some of the works of Lithuanian photographer Antanas Sutkus. Sutkus for those who didn’t came across his works in many ways the father of Lithuanian photography. His depicting of the Street Life of Vilnius, but also of life and traditions elsewhere in the country, to show average Lithuanians in their natural surroundings is photography of the highest standard. For those familiar with Dutch photography -if we have to compare it- in the tradition of Eva Besnyö and Cas Oorthuys.
This exhibition however, shows a different aspect of Sutkus’ work. As a member of the Communist Party during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania Sutkus had access to the nomenklatura. The listed ones, the anointed ones that had privileges in the officially classless society. But not just that, he himself was part of the nomenklatura. Enjoying the privileges to the full. It may not take anything away from the artistic value and quality of his work, but it throws up the question how did this influence his work? The choice of topics for once. But also what did he not show in his works? As an example of this last point may serve the total absence of the traditional queues in front of shops. Having worked the way Sutkus worked it is hard to imagine him never having encountered those. But this was obviously not a favorite topic or the Communist Party to be shown, underlining the inefficiencies of the socialist model.
The exhibition also provides insight in the privileged life of the nomenklatura. Sutkus was invited being one of them. But also as the party photographer of the Party so to say. The exhibition shows pictures of the rather formalistic -another word for boring- parties, with always the same flower arrangements, an abundance of food and drinks. Although there are also a few pictures after the official bit was over, the drinks have done their work and the singing and dancing started.
Another aspect was the office life. And the central role of the telephone. Not available for mere mortals of course. So pictures of desk with telephones lined up shows who was boss. And always under the watchful eye of Lenin on the wall of course. The dictatorship -after the brutalities of the Stalin years were over- ruled till a large extend via the telephone. Orders didn’t always exist on paper, but a call did the work. And calls were listened into massively. An interesting fait divers in this regard is the current residence of the Finnish ambassador in Vilnius. Once used to be the central place to eavesdrop into any conversation. And if komunalka in a later stage did get phones, then it were communal phones in the hallway. So that social control, and fear controlled the conversations.
And all the parades, the placards and flags neatly prepared and handed out. Always a big turn out, but never genuine enthusiasm visible on the photos. Obligatory to attend of course, but at least for young men and women a place to meet each other. Because under occupation and during dictatorship life has to go on.
In many ways a brave move of the museum to put this exhibition together. And as much a brave move from Anatanas Sutkus to open his archive and show this side of his work. Because it gives insight in the choices he made, that provided him with the professional opportunities to work and travel and become the extraordinary photographer he is.
It is interesting as well against the background of many unanswered questions of yesterday, that still play a role today. Like the unopened files with the names of those who worked for the Soviet intelligence and security services, the NKVD and KGB during the occupation of Lithuania. Once likely a sensible or at least understandable decision to not open old wounds, while the nation was trying to rebuild itself again after re-independence in 1990. But today a gift that keeps on giving that is hunting the domestic politics of Lithuania. Although exploited for completely different reasons by the new party Nemuno Aušra, not an illogical question to ask from historic perspective. We only have to think about the recent -and not closed- discussion with regard to the opening of certain historic court files from the special court after the German occupation.
The exhibition opens discussion and thinking about all those aspects. It makes you wonder whether Antanas Sutkus was in fact working like ‘undercover’ im inneren Exil to portray how for all to see -although only later- how petite bourgeoisie all these members of the nomenklatura were. Or is the explanation more mondain and was Sutkus simply acting as a pragmatic opportunist. Taking advantage to the full of the vanities of power. I don’t the answer, but would encourage all visiting or living in Vilnius to go and see this exhibition. Which for me served its purpose by raising the right questions and leaving me behind struggling to find the answers.
Author:
Jack Twiss Quarles van Ufford. Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vilnius, Lithuania
Photo’s: © private archive of Jack Twiss Quarles van Ufford
Lithuanian National Museum
House of Histories, Kosciuškos gatve 3, Vilnius
Till 2025-05-11
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