The show with the Žmonės.lt portal was shared by its creator Vladas Linauskas. He also revealed what kind of person the show’s hero was behind the cameras.
Read more This Škoda Octavia with a parachute accelerates up to 367 km/h: where is the 630 HP hiding?
“I met Donatas in 2022 when we were filming the series of the show ‘Lithuanian with a Lithuanian’ about Vilnius and London. His then-wife Greta filled out a form to participate in the project, and we gladly invited them to show Vilnius to a guest – a Lithuanian woman from London. Later, they themselves traveled to visit compatriots in London. Although the basis of our communication was the filming of the TV show, in which we wanted to show the unique Vilnius through the prism of a ‘steampunk’ hero, we managed to have a sincere conversation off-camera as well. Donatas later looked very natural in London’s Camden Town district and the old town,” he told Žmonės.lt.
Remembering the late man, Vladas did not hide that he was fascinated by his qualities and patience.
“Donatas was an extremely friendly and patient person. To maintain such an image all day, wear leather clothes, and patiently film a documentary – not everyone manages to hide irritation, but he did it perfectly. We ourselves were representatives of subcultures in the past – in youth, we supported everything from electric boogie dance to cyberpunk and anime manga style, so we perfectly understood this man’s artistic soul,” he said.
However, after the show, they maintained contact only remotely, through social networks.
“Where did we not find common ground? Although we are tolerant, we are indifferent to bar culture, where alcohol is sold and consumed. We understand the style, but in this area, we had no contact because we are abstainers. Therefore, after the show’s creation process, we maintained only remote contact on Facebook. There were thoughts to create a series of shows about ‘steampunk’ in Lithuania and the world, where Donatas would have played a role, but there were not enough resources. We do not know the reason why Donatas died, but we believe that Vilnius lost a very unique ‘hero.’ We sincerely sympathize with all his relatives and those who knew him. If anyone wants to remember Donatas – they can watch those few episodes with his interview. We created them with great sympathy and love for him as a person and artist,” the interlocutor said.
Eye-catching for his distinctive appearance
Donatas himself grew up in Vilnius, and as an adult, he engaged in various jobs – guarding various strategic Lithuanian objects, decorating stages, and working as a prop maker for the Puppet Theater.
At his initiative, two unusual bars opened their doors in the center of Vilnius.
“In my life, it was always like this: every 5-6 years, I radically changed my appearance. Sometimes long hair, sometimes a shaved head, or something else. And then I discovered what was closest to my heart. Steampunk style appeared in my life quite unexpectedly – until then, I had created many leather clothes, such a versatile wardrobe, but since the Lithuanian press had made me an ‘Indian,’ it started to bother me because clients began to think that I only created things in the Indian field. <…>
Read more Lithuania and Ukraine’s DEMZ signed a major project investment agreement
I remember that while recreating the image of a 20th-century Indian, I accidentally discovered steampunk. A new world opened up to me, which freed my hands to expand my world as much as possible,” said D. Dubauskas.
Greta and Donatas stood out from the crowd with their distinctive, bright style and vintage bicycles.
“This is how we look every day. <…> When I walk in another city or country, people’s reaction is definitely very good. I don’t look silly or very provocative – I look quite manly. Because of that, to children I am ‘that character,’ to women – ‘that man,’ and to men – ‘that guy.’ If I walk across a crosswalk, many let me pass and often even give a thumbs up, saying many kind words. I have not heard negative evaluations – our society is quite educated, and it is no longer the time to criticize a person for how they look. <…> Now people are free in their thinking – they can definitely say many nice words to a passerby they don’t know,” he insists.
Passing by St. Anne’s Church in the show, he recalled a story.
“I was 23-24 years old, and in the evening, my colleagues and I decided to look at the night Vilnius. We climbed the tower, where I sat dangling my legs. Then a guard ran up, called the police, and they took me down from there. I didn’t get a fine, but they asked me: ‘What were you doing on the roof? Looking for skulls?’ I answered: ‘What sane person looks for skulls on the roof?’ That was my experience,” he smiled.
“Vilnius is truly a city of freedom, of free choices. Here, people are not divided, but become Vilnians. It doesn’t matter to anyone whether you are from Kaunas or Klaipėda – here you can go out on the street dressed as you like, without thinking about what the neighbors will say about you,” said Donatas.
Read more The unemployment rate in Estonia in the second quarter was 6.6%.
Full episode:
