Creativity Defines Her. In the Studio with Ani Gandžumian

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©Karolis Pilypas Liutkevičius

When we invited Ani Gandžumian to give an interview for our series about the new generation of Vilnius Jews, she was surprised. She felt distant from the community. Yet she agreed. The upcoming artist, who grew up attending a Jewish kindergarten and school in Vilnius, guides listeners into the realms of object design and music. Listen to the second interview in the “We Too Are From Vilnius” series. The interview is in Lithuanian, and the interview summary here is in English.

Eighty years after the liquidation of the Vilnius Ghetto, NARA launched the podcast series “We Too Are From Vilnius,” where we speak with young Jewish people from Vilnius, exploring their connection to a city scarred by immense loss, their identity, and a Lithuanian society navigating between multiculturalism and nationalism.

This is the second interview in the series. Listen to the first one with Vilnius native Naomi Koc here.

Vilnius residents might meet Ani Gandžumian in the corridors of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in object design. Ani is hesitant to call herself an object designer just yet, preferring to describe herself as a creator and explorer. You might also spot her working as a barista at the Vilnius cafe “Raštinė” or hear her curated music on her (link: https://radiovilnius.live/category/shows/hyper-moves-w-ani/ text: Hyper moves“ show on “Radio Vilnius.”

Ani never emphasizes her identity. If someone asks where she’s from, she says Lithuania, adding that her name is Armenian.

Ani Gandžumian’s great-grandmothers were Jewish, from Ukraine and the United States. Her family’s history expands the geography of today’s Jewish Vilnius. ©Karolis Pilypas Liutkevičius
Ani Gandžumian’s great-grandmothers were Jewish, from Ukraine and the United States. Her family’s history expands the geography of today’s Jewish Vilnius. ©Karolis Pilypas Liutkevičius

Ani grew up in Vilnius in a family with an Armenian father and a Lithuanian mother. Both her great-grandmothers were Jewish. Her father’s grandmother was from Ukraine, and her mother’s – from the United States. Her parents enrolled her in a Jewish kindergarten and school in Vilnius, where she learned Hebrew and actively participated in community traditions.

After finishing school, Ani distanced herself from the Jewish community. “My mom has mixed roots, and my dad isn’t fully Armenian. So, from this mix, I feel I’ve gained a stronger sense of worldliness,” she explains. For Ani, identity “is more about what you create around yourself.” In her case, that’s her creative projects and activities where she expresses herself.

While designing the FROWN vest, Ani followed the principle of androgyny, blurring the boundaries between traditional femininity and masculinity. Model: Rokas Krilavičius. ©Vincas Čygas
While designing the FROWN vest, Ani followed the principle of androgyny, blurring the boundaries between traditional femininity and masculinity. Model: Rokas Krilavičius. ©Vincas Čygas
Ani created the FROWN Vol. 2 cabinet with the idea of concealing objects at home. This piece, inspired by utilitarian style, also continues the theme of androgyny. ©Jonas Balsevičius
Ani created the FROWN Vol. 2 cabinet with the idea of concealing objects at home. This piece, inspired by utilitarian style, also continues the theme of androgyny. ©Jonas Balsevičius

In her work, Ani places significant emphasis on the principle of androgyny. She associates this with rebellion: “I was a bit rebellious toward stereotypes or rules that seemed unfair to me. I’m fascinated by how certain things, characteristic of certain genders, can provoke reactions.”

Ani’s relationship with her Jewish heritage is also an expression of her rebellious nature. But eventually, she embraced it. Listen to her story.

Ani Gandžumian in Vilnius, summer 2024. ©Karolis Pilypas Liutkevičius
Ani Gandžumian in Vilnius, summer 2024. ©Karolis Pilypas Liutkevičius

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The interview with Ani Gandžumian was recorded at the sound recording studio of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library, with sound engineer Justina Šimonytė.

The series’ music was composed by Kata Bitowt.

The project "We Too Are from Vilnius" is partially funded by the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund by the U.S. Embassy in Lithuania and the Resilience initiative by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lithuania. The NARA team maintains full control of the content and journalistic independence.

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