“Mikalojus Čiurlionis is, in fact, ladies and gentlemen, Mr President, the embodiment of what was and still is so very important to us. A certain closeness, cultural heritage, and the identity of Poland and Lithuania. In his life story – of a man who united our two nations through his artistic imagination and sensitivity and made Lithuania famous around the world – lies the truth about Polish-Lithuanian relations. Then and now,” said President Karol Nawrocki during the ceremony unveiling the memorial monument to the Lithuanian artist in Marki.
Today, at the cemetery in Marki (Wołomin County), a ceremonial unveiling took place of the memorial monument to Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, an outstanding Lithuanian painter, composer, and writer. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, and the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, who is on a working visit to Poland.
President Nawrocki on the “trace of memory”
During the ceremony, President Nawrocki said:
“Wołomin County itself, the land of Wołomin and Marki are filled with many traces of memory. Such beautiful, important traces of memory that speak about the history of this land. On the one hand – its industrial past, as evidenced by the 50-meter chimney and the Briks Palace. On the history of Poles’ struggle for a free and independent Poland. Here in Marki, at the cemetery, January Uprising insurgents are buried, whom we commemorated today together with the President. Also here at the cemetery there is a burial plot of soldiers who defeated the Bolsheviks in 1920. The beautiful Church of St Isidore and the beautiful Church dedicated to St Andrew Bobola, one of Poland’s patrons.”
“Today, a special figure joins these important traces of memory – an exceptional artist who was not only a composer but also a painter. A Lithuanian artist who was educated at Polish universities, in Poland when Poland was under partitions, supported by Michał Ogiński – a patron of Polish culture. A man who was also within the broad and powerful sphere of influence of Stanisław Moniuszko. A Lithuanian who also gained artistic experience and great sensibility in Poland,” he added.
Further, President Nawrocki assessed:
“Čiurlionis is, in fact, ladies and gentlemen, Mr President, the embodiment of what was and still is so very important to us. A certain closeness, cultural heritage, and the identity of Poland and Lithuania. In his life story – of a man who united our two nations through his artistic imagination and sensitivity and made Lithuania famous around the world – lies the truth about Polish-Lithuanian relations. Then and now. In relations that are very close, very important for Europe and for the world, and relations that are so creative.”
“I am very glad that this trace of memory will, from today on, be visited by the residents of Marki, the residents of Wołomin County, but will certainly also become a point of reference for many people, tourists who come to Poland. It will be a symbol of what we want to say to the world: that in Poland, in Lithuania, in Central Europe and Eastern Europe, there is contained a beautiful idea of great culture that truly enriches the whole world,” he pointed out.