(377)“Listen to the Water” Joint Exhibition in Lithuania ~ Preparation & Opening Ceremony : the Return of Love ❤️
The Frost Flowers journey has been unfolding since 2023, when Lithuania marked its very first stop. After circling the globe, the seventh stop has brought us right back to where it all began. They say that “seven” is the most sacred number in the ancient civilizations, symbolizing “wholeness, good fortune, and holiness.” So, when we returned to Lithuania to prepare this exhibition, I naturally assumed that, being back in a familiar place with old friends and partners, everything would be easy and well rehearsed. Hah! Only in the end did I truly experience what it means to “go deeper and discover deeper”—yet another extraordinary journey that completely broke with convention.
For exhibitions in other countries, Charles would always rehearse the entire setup in his mind before setting off. This time, however, things were rather different, because he had to create his paintings on site at Ruta’s village within just one week. To exhibit these freshly born paintings alongside the Frost Flowers —wouldn’t that inevitably involve quite a few unknowns? I asked him with some concern, “Wouldn’t it be difficult or stressful to arrive in a new place and have to produce eight or more paintings for the exhibition?”
He smiled and replied, “With Plein-air painting, everything depends on the right time, place, and people. Whether the sky is clear or thunder rolls, that is up to Heaven. As for pressure? If you have desires and expectations, if you cling to gains and losses, then pressure naturally follows.”
I immediately chimed in, “Exactly! The ‘Listen to the Water’ joint exhibition is guiding us, step by step, to learn from our great teacher "Water". Water: naturally yielding, flowing with the moment, blending into whatever it encounters. Whatever circumstances arise, we simply learn from water’s softness, humility, and flexibility, and respond accordingly. Water does not seek applause or cling to praise; it simply gives and contributes, allowing the whole to come into being. Wherever we hold an exhibition, we should never forget our original intention. Only then can we truly embody the qualities and nature of water.”
This time, thanks to Ruta’s thoughtful arrangements beforehand, the exhibition was given a venue in the National Museum of Zoology in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city. I never imagined that we would one day be able to hold an exhibition in this more-than-a-century-old museum! Ruta’s connections and influence, built through her former position as Director of the National Environmental Protection Bureau, were truly remarkable. Every time I thought about this rare honor, my heart filled with gratitude.
But here came the challenge: after completing the paintings in the village, they first had to be exhibited publicly in the village and at a nearby exhibition venue. Only the following day could we rush to Kaunas. That meant we would have to install the exhibition on Saturday morning and hold the opening ceremony at four in the afternoon. This was the original plan arranged by Ruta and the museum director.
Oh dear—installation and opening on the very same day? That was something I had never anticipated! Although we could be considered fairly experienced, we had never conducted an on-site inspection, and exhibition setups always come with unexpected situations. After weighing everything carefully, I still felt uneasy. An inner voice kept encouraging me to “be true”—to speak openly and honestly about what was on my mind. Fortunately, Ruta understood that my concerns came from sincerity and goodwill, and eventually reached an agreement with the museum director. We successfully changed the schedule so that Saturday would be devoted entirely to installation, with the official opening on Sunday afternoon. Thank goodness we managed to make that change, because once we actually arrived and began setting up, we realized even more clearly just how necessary it was!
Alas, the reality was that the museum director was newly appointed and, when it came to almost everything in the exhibition hall, he was practically “nine questions out of ten, he didn’t know the answer.” With time running short, Charles became a little frustrated. I quickly reassured him, “He’s just new to the job and doesn’t know much yet. There’s no point blaming him. We’ll figure it out ourselves.” And just like that, Charles, Ruta, and I instantly transformed into the “strongest team.” How should the photographs and paintings be framed? How should the hooks for hanging the paintings be secured? How could we measure the spacing between works accurately? How should the layout be arranged elegantly? How should the lighting be adjusted? … Charles became the commander-in-chief, while Ruta and I, his two little assistants, scrambled to keep up.
Oh, and the artworks still needed titles and printed labels! No problem. I simply named them on the spot, following my intuition, while Ruta quickly printed the labels. Then the two of us worked together, cutting and sticking them onto each piece one by one. Wait a minute—what about the guest book, flowers, and refreshments for the Opening Ceremony? The moment Ruta heard this, off she rushed to get everything ready. How rare it was to see someone who had once held such a senior position without the slightest "hint of official airs", working shoulder to shoulder with us throughout the entire process.
We worked continuously from ten in the morning until five in the afternoon before everything was finally completed. We walked around the exhibition hall and were filled with admiration. It was neither lavish nor ostentatious, yet it was filled with a beautiful resonance of “loving energy.” More than anything, the way the three of us worked so naturally and wholeheartedly together left me deeply touched.
When Opening Ceremony arrived, everything unfolded beautifully. Parents brought their children, who were utterly fascinated by what they saw. And because this was a zoology museum, many school groups will be able to come and admire the dazzling Frost Flowers in the future as well! Never underestimate this simple, heartfelt Opening Ceremony. As we prepared to leave that evening, we took stock of the results: seventeen Frost Flower photographs were exhibited, seven had already been sold; of the ten paintings, four had already found new homes! And all proceeds from the sales this time will be returned to Ruta’s village, giving this ‘Listen to the Water’ joint exhibition an even deeper and more meaningful purpose.
After all the hard work, the three of us exchanged knowing smiles. Everything had come together beautifully, completely and wonderfully.
Yes—the seventh stop brought us back to Lithuania, and only then did I realize that everything had been carrying a profound and far-reaching purpose. This beautiful “return of love,” with its overflowing affection accompanying the Frost Flowers and beautiful paintings, will remain forever in all our hearts. Warm, gentle, and deeply comforting… how wonderful it is!
