Man Smashes Historic Kaunas Courtyard Gallery With Hammer

Kaunas residents captured a man wielding a hammer at the Courtyard Gallery, smashing artwork created 14 years ago. The gallery, a significant cultural site, documented the history of a Jewish family who once lived in the courtyard.

Vytenis Jakas, the creator of the Courtyard Gallery, described the man's aggressive actions, noting that he "drastically came in front of everyone with tools, smashed everything on the wall, mirrors. There were mirrors everywhere here." The gallery's art included portraits, silhouettes, and remnants of the family's past.

The man, identified as a lecturer at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), had previously expressed his desire to remove the art, according to Jakas. He reportedly pointed to crosses on the artwork, stating, "There should be nothing here." Police have launched an investigation into property destruction.

Gercas Žakas, chairman of the Kaunas Jewish Community, expressed concern about the lecturer's behavior, stating, "As a lecturer, these are incompatible things for me. If this reaches the rector, he should resolve such a matter – whether he can be a lecturer." The university confirmed the man has taught at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for about 10 years without prior complaints. A university representative noted that since the incident occurred outside working hours and off-campus, the matter is with law enforcement.

The destruction coincides with municipal plans to renovate the heritage-protected building on which the gallery is situated. Saulius Rimas, head of the City Development and Heritage Protection Department, stated that the municipality allocated 60,000 euros for the renovation. He mentioned that the murals were installed without consent, and residents decided against preserving them due to the building's poor condition. However, residents of two other buildings with similar artworks are petitioning to save them, highlighting the gallery's sentimental value and its status as a unique attraction for tourists and a "calling card" for Kaunas.