Donatas Jankauskas-Duonis. Boniface's Holiday

5 June – 27 September 2026

Older generations will recognise Boniface’s Holiday. The animated film of the same name (dir. Fyodor Khitruk, 1960) tells the story of Boniface, a circus lion. One day, Boniface sets off on holiday. He dreams of visiting his grandmother who lives in a faraway land, eating bananas, swimming in a lake, and going fishing. But his holiday plans unexpectedly turn into working days, during which the lion entertains children with circus performances.

 

The title Boniface’s Holiday has entered the collective consciousness as a common expression describing a situation where work, obligations, and the expectations of others intrude on time meant for rest. It is like the deceptive promise of a holiday – unattainable, even exotic, somewhere by the water, the sun, and the sea. It is like the dream of escaping the city for the shelter of nature. A shelter such as Juodkrantė. Boniface’s holiday is a dream, a longing for idleness, rest, and the simple pleasures that nature offers. Even without that dream being fully realised, the lion returned happy and looking forward to the next holiday.

 

Having read this introduction about holidays, you might assume that the artist Donatas Jankauskas-Duonis is also creating a holiday atmosphere in the exhibition. In part, yes – on a large screen you will see the sea-washed shore of an exotic land, inviting you to immerse yourself in impossibly blue water. Alongside it, zoomorphic sculptures are on display: cyclopes, monkeys, gorillas, a blue bird, and – in the adjoining building – cats who fancy themselves lions, heightening the sense of adventure. But the artist stays true to his sense of humour and will not let you doze lazily in the summer sun. In the exhibition, he talks with irony about the cult of beauty and the industry surrounding it. You are, after all, witnessing primates transformed into polished dandies. So don’t be surprised if you, too, find yourself taking a seat in the barber’s chair.

 

Donatas Jankauskas (Duonis) (b. 1968) completed his sculpture studies at the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 1994. Since 1990, he has been an active participant in exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad. Since 1994, he has been a member of the group „DDD.“ Jankauskas works in sculpture, video art, and installation; creates puppets for theatre; organises artistic actions; and has run street art festivals in Telšiai (Street Art Project, 1997; Announcements, 1998; On Culture, 1999; Signs in the City, 2000). He lives and works in Vilnius.

 

 

Curators: Skaistė Marčienė and Tomas Daukša

Designer: Edita Namajūnienė

Editor: Ieva Puluikienė

 

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3 L. Rėzos st, LT-93101, Juodkrantė, Neringa, Lithuania.
+370 469 53 323, +370 46 410 412
pamario.galerija@lndm.lt

See also

Exhibition

Some Cats Are Lions