Lithuanian Culture Institute unveils first mural in Italy at Itala, Sicily

The Lithuanian Culture Institute has commissioned its first mural in Italy, created by Lithuanian illustrator and street artist Eglė Narbutaitė in the small Sicilian town of Itala, near Messina. Titled #LabasItala, the public artwork depicts a man and a woman sitting back-to-back, with an olive tree and an apple tree growing from their chests, symbolizing the importance of cultural roots and the value of sharing diversity. The project was initiated after the COVID-19 lockdown, which highlighted the significance of public art as one of the few accessible cultural forms outside the home. Laura Gabrielaitytė-Kazulėnienė, representative of the Lithuanian Culture Institute in Italy, stated that the pandemic confirmed the importance of public art and inspired the institute to engage more street artists. Simona Crisafulli, owner of the building hosting the mural, plans to transform it into a cultural and educational center for local youth. The mural merges symbols of Lithuanian culture (a traditional textile spindle, a snake, a Christmas tree, a Samogitian bear, a linden tree, and an acorn) with Sicilian symbols (the trinacria, lemon, and wheat). Narbutaitė will conduct a workshop for local children during her residency, aiming to convey the unity of two different worlds and address xenophobia. The artist noted that in Lithuania and many countries, there is still distrust toward foreigners and a fear that immersing in another culture might sever one's own roots.