Drawings by Visaginas resident Leonid Lebiodkin / MF archive
The exhibition "Pikakoka" presents drawings by Visaginas resident Leonid Lebiodkin, created during his recovery from a stroke, along with interior objects inspired by them. Since 1975, L. Lebiodkin had dedicated his life to applied arts, and after retiring, he dreamed of devoting his time to free creative work. However, an unexpected stroke changed everything. The illness took away his independence and forced him to relearn everyday skills-speaking, moving-while creative work was set aside as a "meaningless" activity. Nevertheless, the support of his loved ones encouraged him to use drawing as a rehabilitation tool. The process was not easy: his paralyzed right hand was replaced by his left, and the restrained style that characterized his earlier work evolved into colorful graphic abstractions and fantastical scenes. Creativity became not only a form of self-expression but also significantly improved his emotional state and accelerated physical recovery.
Drawings by Visaginas resident Leonid Lebiodkin / MF archive
The works created since 2022 reflect the emotional trajectory of his rehabilitation-from frustration to joy. "Jase mime," "Unosog," "Aotat"-titles that seem to be in foreign languages-are actually a result of his language impairment. The title of the exhibition, "Pikakoka," also slipped out of Leonid’s lips when he wanted to express satisfaction with his work and can be interpreted as a synonym for the word "like."
The exhibition invites visitors to engage with the themes of stroke and rehabilitation. While stroke recovery is typically grounded in physiotherapy and speech therapy, psychological support is equally important to address the profound emotional impact of suddenly losing physical abilities and facing social isolation. How do we cope with this? "Pikakoka" tells Leonid’s story and encourages the use of art as a therapeutic tool for psychosocial rehabilitation, as well as highlights the importance of creativity in restoring socioeconomic independence.
The exhibition will be on display until the end of 2024.
Drawings by Visaginas resident Leonid Lebiodkin / MF archive