Description

After a nearly month-long stay at Paliesius Manor, we invite you to a special afternoon—a farewell to the twelve-lithograph cycle “King Solomon’s Song of Songs” by the Litvak artist Théo Tobiasse, from the collection of Dr. Shmuel Tatz.

This event opens a new cycle of cultural encounters dedicated to the theme of the 2026 European Days of Jewish Culture: love. We have chosen to unfold the theme of love through one of humanity’s oldest and most beautiful texts, the “Song of Songs” (Shir ha-Shirim), which for over two millennia has inspired poets, artists, musicians, and thinkers to endlessly reimagine love, beauty, and human connection.

During the afternoon, surrounded by these artworks, the poet Indrė Valantinaitė will read excerpts from the “Song of Songs,” while pianist and artist Viktoras Paukštelis weaves a sonic landscape on the piano. Théo Tobiasse’s lithographs, live poetry, and piano music will blend into a seamless artistic narrative of timeless love.

About the Project

Four distinct narratives converge in this project: the cycle of twelve lithographs created in 1975 by the Litvak artist Théo Tobiasse (1927–2012), intertwining Jewish cultural memory, echoes of Lithuanian landscapes, and the universal experience of love; the lifelong dedication of Litvak art collector Dr. Shmuel Tatz, helping restore Litvak art to Lithuania’s cultural memory; and two contemporary creators—the poet Indrė Valantinaitė alongside pianist and artist Viktoras Paukštelis—whose works continually transcend the boundaries of a single medium. Here, they speak through the language of poetry and music, extending Théo Tobiasse’s dialogue with one of the Bible’s most poetic texts.

Project curator – Liana Jagniatinskytė.

Exhibition designer – Aleksandra Jacovskytė.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the story of the “Song of Songs” through a journey of image, poetry, and music. It will be a living dialogue of love, art, and cultures.

The project is implemented by the Vilnius Jewish Public Library (a branch of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania), Paliesius Manor, and Paideia – The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Stockholm, along with the TATZ Support Foundation.