Lithuanian scientists investigated how murals shape the image of a city

By analysing Kaunas murals as part of the so-called "linguistic landscape" - a system where language is understood not only as words, but also as visual images, colours and context - the researchers came to the conclusion: wall paintings become a form of cultural activism and collective memory.

The results are published in the Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development.

Professors Sauliute Juzelienienė and Saule Petronienė studied multilingual murals created when Kaunas held the title of European Capital of Culture. They note that these works do not just decorate the walls, but change the perception of the city by its inhabitants - allowing them to rethink history and cultural heritage.

"Murals dedicated to the Holocaust or deportations turn city streets into places of remembrance. They do not simplify history, but make it closer and more understandable to people, fill it with emotions," says Professor Juseleniene.

According to the researchers, Kaunas has traditionally been considered the "most Lithuanian" of the country's major cities, but its history is rich in multinational influences. Between the world wars, Jews, Poles, Germans and other peoples lived here.

"Through art, we can recall the diversity that shaped the city's appearance," says Professor Petronienė, head of the KTU Centre for Foreign Languages.

Scientists note that murals fulfil not only an aesthetic function, but also an educational one. They create a living archive of memory, accessible to everyone who passes by. This is especially important in an unstable geopolitical situation, when, as Petroniene notes, "there is always the risk of losing not only economic but also cultural progress."

The study also found that street art serves as an instrument of public dialogue. It encourages citizens to discuss topics related to history and identity and promotes the development of local communities.

"Murals act gently but constantly, awakening interest, prompting questions, sharing impressions and stories. This is how art is woven into collective memory," says Juseleniene.

The professor admits that she herself became interested in street art when her family settled near the synagogue, in a house whose courtyards became the famous Kiemas (Courtyard) gallery. Thanks to projects and grants, this space has become a true open-air museum.

The authors of the study emphasise that murals often become a reason for residents to unite. There are similar examples in other countries: for example, in the Dutch city of Heerlen, street art helped revive neighbourhoods that had been deserted after the closure of mines, and in Belfast, murals still tell the story of the conflict in Northern Ireland.