Since September 2021 my installation titled Rolling Angels, consisting of 15 sculptural mobile angels, (modelled in concrete over second-hand rubbish bins) have been residing in Linksmakalnis. They have been used by a contemporary circus group who have pushed and pulled them through Linksmakalnis and Kaunas City

In addition to bringing this flock of Rolling Angels, I was asked to create an angel specifically for the small town Linksmakalnis, who would be staying there permanently.

““Linksmakalnis is one of the villages with a unique history. Once a manor owned by a German family, then a village called Merry manor, during the Soviet occupation Linksmakalnis became an enclosed secret military town with many radio antennas and Russian soldiers. After the Soviet troops withdrew in 1993, the settlers settled here. Today, in a town lacking a sense of local identity and a sense of community, the complex traumas of history still cast their shadows.” *Quote from the invitation letter from Kaunas 2022 “Memory Office” program curator dr. Daiva Citvarienė.

The sculpture was handed over on the 1st of October in Linksmakalnis, with speeches by the Elder/Mayor of the town, three representatives from the European Capital of Culture Kaunas22, Representative from The Danish Cultural Institute and the artist. There was also a handover performance by Džiugas Kunsmanas and Sigrid N. Ørntoft, accompanied by the music for the Angel of Smiles and a concert by local musicians.

In 1995 I participated in an exhibition at Ciurlionis Museum in Kaunas, where I bought a brochure about the Lithuanian folk artist and children’s book author Stasė Samulevičienė. This woman received in 1977 the “Order of Smiles” which was given to people who had shown a great compassion towards children.