Sun and Sea, Golden Lion winner, arrives in Medellín
The Lithuanian work that has captivated more than forty cities across America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania arrives in Medellín for the first time from October 23 to 26 at the Ciudadela de la Cuarta Revolución y la Transformación del Aprendizaje (C4TA), with performances that invite the audience to immerse themselves in a fictional beach where the everyday becomes a metaphor for the environmental crisis.
- Performances will take place from Thursday, October 23, to Sunday, October 26 at C4TA, across from the Parque Biblioteca San Javier, with afternoon and evening showtimes.
- The audience will observe from above as more than twenty artists enjoy a day at the beach while revealing, through songs and monologues, the tensions of the ecological crisis.
- Medellín will experience an even more ambitious production, with a stage featuring approximately 33 tons of sand.
- Tickets offer special discounts for students, seniors, people with disabilities, and Comfama members, and admission is free for children under 12.
- Jason Farago, The New York TimesSun & Sea remains one of the greatest achievements in performance of the last 10 years: ironic, seductive, and astute in ways that reveal themselves days or years later. This is a performance that makes the extinction of the species feel as pleasurable as a perfect pop song, and as unforgettable too.
After a successful run in Bogotá in March 2025, where more than 4,000 people filled all performances with sold-out tickets, Sun & Sea, awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale 2019, returns to Colombia. This time, Medellín will be the stage to host the production from October 23 to 26, thanks to the joint effort of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín and the cultural agency Nova et Vetera.
In Bogotá, the production surprised audiences by transforming the Teatro Colón with an artificial beach composed of 20 tons of recyclable sand. For Medellín, the production scales up: approximately 33 tons of sand will be installed and the venue will have a capacity of 400 attendees per performance. With 16 scheduled performances, more than 6,000 spectators are expected, confirming the magnitude of this international production in the city. Tickets available at tuboleta.com/es/eventos/sun-sea, discounts apply.
The work will take place at the Ciudadela de la Cuarta Revolución y la Transformación del Aprendizaje (C4TA), a space that previously housed the Cárcel de Mujeres El Buen Pastor women’s prison and that today is envisioned as a hub for culture, innovation, and memory. Currently, C4TA has established itself as a university center that combines research, technology, and creativity, positioning itself as a benchmark for the transformation of Medellín and, specifically, of Comuna 13.
Conceived by the Lithuanian creators Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė (direction), Vaiva Grainytė (dramaturgy), and Lina Lapelytė (composition), Sun & Sea transforms an enclosed space into a beach bathed by a fictional sun. From an elevated view, attendees observe beachgoers in swimsuits who, through songs and dialogues, gradually reveal how the apparent lightness of leisure conceals a choral narrative about climate change, social apathy, and the effects of excessive consumption.
From left to right: Lina Lapelytė, Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė. Photo: Andrej Vasilenko. Courtesy of the artists.
In the Medellín version, approximately 15 international artists from Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Spain, and other countries will participate, alongside 20 members of the Fundación Sirenaica, an organization that for more than 30 years has promoted musical training for children and young people as a tool for freedom and peacebuilding. Their participation amplifies the work’s message, where music becomes a catalyst for collective awareness.
This event is part of the Temporada Cultural Medellín, which under the motto Medellín, el amor de mis amores brings together more than 1,000 artists and 200 organizations across nearly 50 venues in the city. In this context, Sun & Sea stands as one of the large-format international spectacles connecting local audiences with global artistic creation.
Performances
- Thursday 23 and Friday 24 October
5:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. - Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October
4:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m.
Venue: C4TA – Ciudadela de la Cuarta Revolución y la Transformación del Aprendizaje (Calle 42c # 95 – 50, Campo Alegre, La América, Medellín).
Discounts:
- MAMM Friends (50% with exclusive code, limited capacity)
- Senior citizens (50%)
- Students (50%)
- People with disabilities (50%)
- Special rates for Comfama members
- Children under 12 FREE (with valid ID/card)
Location
C4TA – Ciudadela de la Cuarta Revolución y la Transformación del Aprendizaje
Calle 42c # 95 – 50 Campo Alegre, La América, Medellín