It’s easy to enjoy culture when you can go to an exhibition, a play or a concert. But not everyone has that opportunity. Seniors living among us, or people who are seriously ill, can often only dream of re-entering the world of culture. They are also the part of our society that needs art the most in their lives – it is the only thing that can take their minds off their illness, old age or loneliness. We want to make sure that the film “On the Paths of Angels” is not limited by the walls of the screening spaces, so we are delighted to be able to bring the art of Mikolaj Konstantinas Čiurlionis to the homes of everyone who wants to enjoy it.
Medical experts also agree that seniors and people who are unable to leave their homes due to other circumstances need to be touched by art the most. According to researchers at the Irish Institute of Public Health, taking part in a wide range of cultural activities improves seniors’ brain function, thinking abilities, quality of life and even boosts self-confidence.
With this in mind, we started #PoNamus – a project that aims to bring priceless emotions to these people and bring joy to their everyday lives. With this project, we want everyone to be able to share the experience and the goodness of the virtual film “On the Paths of Angels” with their loved ones, so we make sure that even those who cannot get out of bed can see it.
Yet often the members of our society who need the magical paintings and music of M.K. Čiurlionis the most are modest and hesitate to give themselves a moment of respite. After all, they are used to giving their best to the people they love, not to themselves. But we can be happy that their grandchildren or children want to pamper their loved ones by giving them the opportunity to enjoy the arts and invite us to visit them.
And today, we can already rejoice at the first fruits – the elderly people we visited after the screening shared their joy at being able to experience what virtual reality film has to offer and to immerse themselves in the world of the artist.
It’s great to be able to visit people whose whole life revolves around art. Just recently, we visited my grandmother, who is a true lover of art and culture. Every corner of her house, decorated with all kinds of paintings, is a testimony to this passion. We could see that “Trail of Angels” gave her an unforgettable impression – when she saw the paintings of M.K. Čiurlionis come to life, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
The people we visit are delighted to have three opportunities at once – to try virtual reality technology, which many have never had the chance to touch, and to see the most famous, and at the same time unseen, paintings of a brilliant Lithuanian artist in just half an hour. As the film covers not only Čiurlionis’ visual but also his musical heritage, seniors and the seriously ill feel happy in their own homes, enjoying the artist’s paintings while watching the music he created.
You don’t need big screens, space or powerful speakers to transport your loved ones into the artist’s special world – just the virtual reality glasses we bring to everyone’s home. It doesn’t matter if your loved one lives in an apartment or a house – all they need is a room where direct sunlight can be avoided and they can enjoy the art.
For the elderly and the seriously ill, we offer a completely private screening for one or two people when travelling #PoNamus. This home-based virtual reality cinema allows people to watch the film on a chair, sofa or just lying in bed – as long as they are comfortable and undisturbed throughout the screening.
