Mirties Gatvé - Street of Death is a long time photography project by Tuula Vehanen. She photographed in Vilnius, Lithuania in years 1995, 2005 and 2015. Opening reception on Tuesday July 19th from 5-7 PM.

Tuula Vehanen describes the project and its background: " The exhibition consists of photographs I took in 1995, 2005 and 2015 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Mirties Gatvé is a street name given by the locals to a street where some of the fights took place and many people died in 1991 in the violent confrontations between the civilian population in Lithuania, supporting independence, and the Soviet Armed Forces. The exhibition depicts Lithuanian progress from Soviet times to a modern EU state where the long shadow of Russian influence is still visible.

These photographs build bridges between past and future, with windows open towards Europe and democracy. The children in these photographs have not experienced the yeard under Soviet occupation. Independence has brought wealth for the middle classes and the city has cleaned up its facades. These times have not brought wealth for all though and displacement and poverty are still sensitive subjects in Lithuania.

“But in times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.”  

-quote from Black Panther -movie from 2018 (writers Ryan Coogler ja Joe Robert Cole)

Tuula Vehanen is Vantaa based photographer and artist who often depicts nature and humanity in interaction. She is also interested in culture and politics and explores themes such as minorities as a part of society. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Photography and studies in Master's programme for photography in Aalto University . Mirties Gatvé is Vehanen's first solo exhibition.