RASA STANIULYTE

“Dreams throw random information to our brain to prevent them from becoming too familiar with the ‘training set’ of our everyday lives.” E.Hoel

The insignificance of our existence is never more apparent than when attempting to assimilate the vast expanse of the larger universe.

Gods long forgotten in a city of lost promise.

The curiosity of one person can be destructive to those around them. This is highlighted in the setting of a model village where a child playing is ruining the lives of those that live there.

When Ummi got back to her room, a curious-looking carousel had appeared on her night table. When she wound up the key and the music started, it almost seemed as if the people were moving and about to escape.

Based on tales of Selkie-women, this piece is a darker twist to their endings, fuelled by the misogynistic entitlement that the fishermen embody. This fisherman adds to his hoard of seal skins, an archive of the Selkie-women he’s stolen.

Before its tragic destruction, the ancient Library of Alexandria was one of the world’s greatest wonders, encompassing scholars who explored science, history and all other areas of knowledge. The exact number of such precious scrolls within the library at any given time is unknown, but the estimate is around 400,000.

The great outdoors is a curious place where you’ll find many surprises along the way; from bears to birds, hitchhikers and campers. Although the journey might be difficult, who knows what you’ll find!

Said the apple to the orange, “oh I wanted you to come close to me and kiss me to the core. Then you might know me like no other orange has ever done before”.

Influenced by personal objects in my room that I became very familiar with during a difficult period of my life, as well as the Baz Luhrmann biopic ‘Elvis’. My dad’s love for the king of rock’n’roll made me curious to know what he was really like.

‘Beyond this place of wrath and tears, looms but the horror of the shade’ –a segment from the poem ‘Invictus’; speaking of the unknown that awaits us after death.

Have you ever wondered what your neighbours are up to? They say curiosity killed the cat, but forget that the cat has nine lives. And perhaps satisfaction is worth dying for.

When people let us into their lives we are only privy to what we can see right in front of us. When our relationships deepen we may see more of what’s behind the curtain, but we can never expect to know everything.

Not your stereotypical backpack.

The earth may be burning, but at least my outfit is cool.

Much of human knowledge comes from analysing and exploring the past to make new discoveries. This piece is inspired by the Victorians’ fascination with the natural world, from their collections and curiosity cabinets to the changes brought about by Darwinism.

A shrew’s heart beats over 1,000 times per minute, they can only go without food for two hours and they’re constantly on the lookout for predators. Please look after your local shrews, they’re very stressed!

A Fisherman lives in a teapot, His world may look small, just a dot; He lives life with ease,

And sails the great seas, Catching fish, he would say, quite a lot.

The Wild Swim.

Leaving life on the shoreline, wild swimming is a ritual of insanity to the outsider, yet a spiritual moment of existential singularity falls upon those who are brave enough to take the cold-water plunge.

Being curious about our emotions can improve our wellbeing and help us to become more present and empathetic.

I was inspired by the unusual word ‘monachopsis’, meaning ‘the subtle but persistent fear of being out of place’.

Plants have always been part of our lives but in recent years a spike in houseplants has occurred in a subconscious attempt to rewild the areas we live in. However, sometimes it can get out of hand.

Markets can be an opportunity to discover new foods. They also create a community of people who are passionate about the same thing.

‘“No,” said Lizzie, “no, no, no; their offers should not charm us, their evil gifts would harm us.” Curious Laura chose to linger. Wondering at each merchant man.’

Based on the poem ‘Goblin Market’ by Christina Rossetti

Capybaras are very calm, laid-back animals. Social interactions are important for their happiness –they can get lonely if they don’t interact with other animals frequently. It is their need to socialise that prompts capybaras into allowing other animals to hitch a ride!

Marie Antoinette was a certified teen idol. A crowd of 50,000 people once came to Paris to see her, but things didn’t end well for her. My design of a perfume bottle, with a detachable head, is reflective of this.

Humans have vanished. Only the light of the moon and explosive fires light up the darkness. Animals are left to their own devices. Nature begins to take over the man-made world, restoring itself as though we never existed.

Have you ever wondered what causes crop circles? Well now you don’t have to!

The curious thing about crocodiles is that they cannot stick out their tongues. This makes it very difficult for them to eat ice cream. On the contrary, chameleons can stick their tongues out to twice the size of their bodies!

When children stop believing in monsters, they stop believing in them.

Curiosity drove the cat mad; sometimes peering into strange portals at the bottom of crypts is a bad idea… or a good one, depending on how mad you are.

A strange girl with a mystifying power over water has come to save this city from a flaming demise. However, nobody knows where she’s travelled from, or why she bothers to save the foreign city when she’s never set foot there before.

If imps are getting into your cupboards and eating all of your potion supplies, remove them humanely with a Nectar Projector! Enticed by the nectar of the gods, they are guaranteed to leave even your tastiest possessions alone. Trap sold separately.

All of the creatures gather around, curious to see what their creator comes up with next.

‘“You should be… orange,” she says to the small, metal bird, referring to the open book on her desk. Its white pages display a colourful picture of a toucan’.

From a self-authored narrative, set in a future without nature.

In desperation, humanity willingly let themselves be a host to the parasites. We didn’t know how much we would change in the end.

Technology has progressed rapidly in recent years. What was once futuristic is now a reality. When is someone considered chronically online and how do we bring back a curiosity for the world outside of the internet?

Hello...hello...hello...hello? Anyone in there? In there...in there...there? Only through the caverns, old and mysterious, may you find unique treasures weirder and more wonderful than you can imagine.

The Barry are bridge spirits who eat rubbish that falls into the river. Children fear them. Ducks worship them. But The Barry have no thoughts other than rubbish.

A children’s narrative inspired by my childhood.

The Victorians had a fascination with taxidermy and memento mori and integrated them into their fashion and lifestyle, decorating the figure with the deceased.

After a calamitous event stripped us of our ability to respire by conventional means, we merged with trees and other plants to survive. In this future, humanity has found a new connection with nature, at the cost of modern conveniences.

“The issue becomes not the initial act of deception. But the fact that you’ve lied so long – years and years and years. You may even start to believe the lie yourself”.

It is curious to me how Medusa wasn’t recognised as a female icon earlier. My generation have recognised the villainisation of Medusa. They have used this myth to spread awareness of sexual assault and bring survivors together.