Reviving Culture Through Art: ‘The Seeder’ Marks Lithuania’s First Legal Street Art Masterpiece

The first legalized piece of street art in Lithuania

In 2008, Lithuanian artist Morfai initiated an unauthorized stencil project titled “The Seeder” on the wall of the Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas. The artwork, sadly, was painted over and its accompanying spotlight redirected, likely due to the traditional views of a local architect.

Despite its initial obscurity, the image gained international recognition, notably appearing on a Russian TV game show, which sparked widespread interest. Years later, the tide of local governance shifted, leading to the project “Kaunas Highlights.”

Morfai re-engaged with the community, and after a competitive process, he was granted permission to restore “The Seeder” with durable stone stars and appropriate lighting, establishing it as the first officially recognized piece of street art in Lithuania and the Baltic states.

Historical Context: The Russian Occupation

“The Seeder” statue symbolizes the courage and resilience of those who defied the Russian Occupation of Lithuania from 1795 to 1918. During this period, the Russian empire imposed a ban on the Lithuanian language in an attempt to assimilate the Lithuanian people culturally.

To preserve their language and cultural identity, many Lithuanians engaged in the brave activity of smuggling books and printed materials in Lithuanian from neighboring countries where the language remained free. These smugglers risked severe punishments, including death and deportation to Siberia, underscoring their heroic commitment to sustaining Lithuanian heritage and knowledge.