The work by sculptor Andrius Labašauskas triumphed in a competition of five entries and was picked by a team of experts and a public survey.
“The project by Labašauskas was picked by votes of experts and the society half-in-half,” Culture Vice-Minister Gintautė Žemaitytė told journalists.
The author said his idea was to make the Lukiškių Square next to Gedimino Avenue an open area, with the idea of freedom embodied by playing children and picnicking people.
“People on paths, green areas or the hill (…) will be able to have picnics, play ball, walk their dogs and play with children – this is the image and something that the participants of freedom fights fought for – being free in space,” Labašauskas said in his presentation.
Discussions on the fate of the Lukiškių Square have been continuing since Lithuania regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 and removed the Lenin sculpture from the square.