Lithuanian artist Nomeda Marčėnaitė revealed a fascinating story about a unique request she received while in Egypt, and her steadfast commitment to maintaining her maiden name.
Speaking on the “Lekiam į …” radio show, Marčėnaitė explained that a diving instructor in Egypt asked her to pretend to be his girlfriend, and she even paid him for the favor. “I even paid for it,” she said, according to reports. The artist, known for her ceramics, is accustomed to a life filled with unusual experiences, having once had to improvise a performance for her own safety.
Marčėnaitė as well discussed her decision to always utilize her maiden name, even after having three children. “It’s about preserving identity,” she explained. “Even if a puppy isn’t claimed and we understand its name, we leave it if the owner changes. It would be very possessive and egocentric to change a name even for a puppy, let alone a person. It’s the same with a surname, I have one, so why should I change it? Some people will say there are traditions, but I don’t like all of them. For example, female genital mutilation is practiced in Africa. They also shout that it’s tradition. A surname isn’t as painful, but I always analyze what it means.”
The artist noted that each of her three children has a different last name, a choice that once caused complications at the airport when she had to prove they were all her children. This detail highlights the increasing complexities of family structures and naming conventions in modern society.
