Art Festival 'Audra' Transforms Former Factory into Immersive Exhibition

The "Audra" art festival is set to transform the former "Pergalė" factory in Kaunas into an immersive artistic experience, running from September 3rd to 6th. This year's festival, curated by the Berlin-based collective MOLT, moves beyond traditional exhibition formats, inviting visitors to actively engage with the art and the industrial space.

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We want the visitor to become not just an observer, but also a participant in the exhibition. There will be no single correct route or a story experienced identically by everyone. Every turn, every noticed hint, and every discovered artwork will create a personal path through the exhibition – a visit will become a kind of game with the factory space.

MOLT, a five-member collective known for creating art events in unconventional spaces, emphasizes flexibility and thinking beyond the boundaries of contemporary art. Their approach for "Audra" eschews a pre-determined narrative, instead focusing on creating an environment where the visitor becomes a participant. "We want the visitor to become not just an observer, but also a participant in the exhibition," stated the curators. "There will be no single correct route or a story experienced identically by everyone. Every turn, every noticed hint, and every discovered artwork will create a personal path through the exhibition – a visit will become a kind of game with the factory space."

The exhibition's concept draws inspiration from anthropologist Tim Ingold's idea of 'the path of discovery,' suggesting that we understand our environment not by following a set line, but by moving, observing, and finding landmarks. Small-format works scattered throughout the "Pergalė" factory will serve as coordinates on a larger artistic map. These pieces will highlight different aspects of a broader narrative, with the visitor's movement and attention, rather than a conventional exhibition sequence, connecting the various artists' positions.

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It is precisely the curators' courage and drive that determine the program's impact. This year, we aim to eliminate the conservatism that forms within our own circles, within a closed bubble, the fear of being misunderstood.

Upon entry, visitors will receive a map containing poems, symbols, riddles, and other clues related to specific artworks. These elements will not only aid in navigation but also serve as additional tools for interpreting the exhibition. The festival's opening on September 3rd at 6 PM will be marked by performances that utilize the factory's industrial architecture through body, movement, voice, and sound. The evening program will feature Italian interdisciplinary artist Valentina Parati and Lithuanian artist Paulius Janušonis, among others.

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We have opportunities to experiment, and inviting foreign curators to join the festival is not a one-off initiative. It is part of a larger goal to promote the program's internationality, leaving the festival with its own Kaunas inclusion status.