Centennial Lithuanian Song Festival
This series presents my perspective on the Jubilee Centenary Song Festival. The first Lithuanian Song Festival, held in Kaunas in 1924, became a national tradition that helped unite the nation and endure wars and occupations.
In 2023, I proposed this theme to the photodirector of Monocle. With his approval, I decided to shoot on medium-format film – consciously limiting the number of frames and focusing on the authenticity of each moment. Initially, the feature was planned for four pages, but after submitting the photographs, the editorial team decided to dedicate sixteen pages in the magazine’s most luxurious Expo section.
Each photograph here is not only a visual document but also a personal experience. While photographing the jubilee Song Festival, I felt that I was not only an observer but also a participant in this living tradition. I had the opportunity to be very close to what is real – to the voice, movement, togetherness, and silence of the people.
I wanted to capture not only the grand moments – the crowds, flags, and performances – but also what lies between them: fatigue, concentration, and eyes full of joyful tears.
Today, the Song Festival is included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Algirdas Bakas
Algirdas Bakas is a photographer whose work focuses on documentary, cultural phenomena, and the human relationship with the environment. His photographs are marked by a quiet, contemplative encounter with everyday life – moments that are easy to pass by but difficult to forget once seen.
His work has been presented both in Lithuania and abroad – in the press, exhibitions, and publications. Bakas seeks to maintain a delicate balance in his work between document and personal testimony. He is drawn not only to visible events but also to the emotional undercurrents revealed through details, silence, and restrained movement. Among Algirdas’ clients are such names as Financial Times, The New York Times, Wallpaper, Monocle, Dior, Forbes, Condé Nast, Vogue, and others.
Beyond his creative practice, Algirdas is actively engaged in volunteer work. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, he has contributed to humanitarian initiatives by personally delivering aid to war-affected regions. His volunteering is inseparable from his photography – becoming a sensitive testimony to human resilience, dignity, and solidarity in the face of crisis. These journeys not only enrich his creative work but also reflect a sense of personal responsibility and connection to the world beyond the frame.