CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FROM LITHUANIA at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show 2013

Contemporary

Craft from

Lithuania A R T

B Y

H A N D

The participation of Lithuanian artists‘ in the 37th Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show marks the success of our efforts to achieve closer international cooperation with the United States of America in the field of culture. Lithuania recognises that this show is a unique opportunity for it to present its culture, arts and crafts to all of you here in Philadelphia. This is an opportunity to get acquainted with centuries of Lithuanian traditions and appreciate how they link with our contemporary art, and to feel the Lithuanian national spirit. I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the organizers for inviting us to take part in this wonderful initiative. Finally, I must give my sincere greetings to all those Lithuanians families that have made the United States their home. I look forward to them visiting Lithuania sometime soon. I hope that this first experience with Lithuanian culture will pave the way to further contacts and fruitful cooperation.

Šarūnas Birutis Minister for Culture of the Republic of Lithuania

The Lithuanian artists are able to participate in the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show with the organizational support of the International Cultural Programme Centre, and the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America, Enterprise Lithuania, Maersk Line, Limited and Bajorunas / Sarnoff Foundation. Special thanks go to the Lithuanian Honorary Consul Krista Bard and the LithuanianAmerican Community, Inc., Philadelphia Chapter.

An official event of:

Organized by:

Supported by:

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America

friend:

S CIENCE E CONOMY C OHESION

EUROPEAN UNION

Creating the Future of Lithuania

CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FROM LITHUANIA

at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show 2013 Together with the Lithuanian craft sector, we are extremely proud that Lithuania is the Guest Artist Country at the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. It is the first time that a craft show of this magnitude showcasing Lithuania has been organized in the United States. Participation in this show is one of the key events taking place in the United States that is helping to shine a spotlight on Lithuania during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2013. We would like to present to you 23 artists from the disciplines of jewelry, ceramics, textile, glass, leather, furniture and paper. Each Lithuanian artist is presenting a unique exhibition that features their work, which brings together the long-standing craft traditions of Lithuania and the newest trends along with their professionalism and devotion to their craft together with their individual artistic flair. This show is also a great opportunity for you to get acquainted with our beautiful country, which is located in north-eastern Europe along the Baltic Sea, a region of rich culture grown over many centuries. We warmly invite you to visit the Lithuanian booth, where you can not only find out more about Lithuanian crafts, but also about Lithuanian culture, history, nature and cuisine. It has been a great experience to work with the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show organizers and create this wonderful opportunity for Lithuanian artists to see the amazing craft sector here in the United States. We hope you will be inspired by the contemporary crafts of Lithuania, and perhaps you will find something to add to your personal collection of craft art.

International Cultural Programme Centre team

CEraMICS The abundance of symposiums and exhibitions of ceramic art by top-notch artists from around the world that place in Lithuania is an impetus for local artists to expand and refine their creative ideas. During the past few decades, Lithuanian ceramic art has been dominated by small, conceptual sculptures that exploit the qualities of the material used and give a modern interpretation of tradition and the history of art. Leading ceramic artists are exploring the opportunities provided by coloring and glazes to make great works with individual character, including chamber sculptures, small-scale sculpture and panels, as well as functional and non-functional pottery. Daiva Ložytė has been putting together her collection of ceramic dolls and sculptures for a number of years. These doll-like female figures are shown standing or kneeling, lost in thought, decorative, some in a monochrome color, while others are very colorful. However all of them are able to not only delight, but also serve a purpose. Ložytė takes great care in fashioning the clothes of these figurines, using shapes and patterns from different historical periods. Rūta Šipalytė’s ceramic works and pottery decorated in minimalistic patterns stand out among the work by other young artists. The intricate detail that can be found on her vases, pottery, candlesticks is created using color glazes, craquelure, and variety of textures, and lend a meditative aura to her work. Nomeda Marčėnaitė is recognized both as an artist and a well-known personality in Lithuania through her endless optimism. She has a talent for transforming the stories of her ceramic protagonists (whether it be in relief works, sculptures, or work on ceramic objects that all painted with glaze) into eloquent and subtle metaphors of intimate moments. The spirit of intimacy in her art is not exclusively revealed by the relationship between a man and a woman, but also dwells in compositions that exude a melancholic solitude or even simply whimsical pranks made out of glazed clay. Dainius Strazdas specializes in ancient ceramic art. He has used his artistic talent and knowledge over the past few decades in collaboration with archeologists to carry out research on the pottery of the ancient cultures of the region, starting with the Neolithic period to ceramic art in the Middle Ages, Gothic and Renaissance periods. He uses the ancient techniques of moulding, throwing and firing to create ceramic works that are unique in today’s art.

LoŽYTė D ai v a

Daiva’s creations travel across your senses. A mature, fully developed thought is born painlessly, like the flow of a river, freely and blissfully. Her sculpted clay works are handmade from two or three parts. The figures have expressive silhouettes, faces that suggest different characters,carefully

L o ž y t ė

brushed hair, clothes decorated with subtle embroidery, and tiny shoes with buttons and ribbons. They are covered with a bright or pastel-coloured glaze. Their purpose is to hold tea, spices, honey, sugar, nuts, bunches of flowers, or any other secret you have.

Location: Klaipėda, Lithuania Phone: +370 623 75833 Website: www.facebook.com/DaivaLozyteCeramics E-mail: lozyted@gmail.com

CERAMICS

MarčėnaItė N o meda

M ar č ė nait ė

Writing books, hosting television shows, cooking, gardening, car racing and playing with clay are all activities that delight Nomeda and color her life, but ceramics is her true calling. ‘I know of no other art form that incorporates

line, color, form and texture,’ she says. ‘I play with all these options like a child, and it seems that my life will not be long enough to get the most out of this joy.’

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 652 02507 Website: www.nomedos.lt E-mail: nomeda.marcenaite@gmail.com

CERAMICS

StraZdas D ainius

Dainius has spent much of his life reviving old techniques. He has lately been experimenting with the leaven ceramics technique, which was popular in Vilnius during the Middle Ages. This technique is different, because the fully heated vessel is immersed in specially prepared leaven while it is still steaming. The leaven may be made of wheat, rye, pea

S tra z das

flour or oatmeal, or beetroot or cabbage juice. The technique is eco-friendly and chemical-free. Items made by it will never be identical; the patterns on them are always unique, like frost on a windowpane. Our forefathers used leaven ceramic dishes for food. But above all, the leaven technique offers unlimited opportunities for aesthetic improvisation.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 659 99040 Website: www.dvaromeistrai.lt/dainius-strazdas E-mail: dainius_strazdas@yahoo.com

CERAMICS

ŠIpalytė R ū ta

Š ipal y t ė

Rūta translates the meditative character of nature and its elements into a blend of negative spaces, colors and elementary geometric forms. With this vocabulary, she creates enlightened objects that seek to preserve the fleeting beauty of momentary impressions and passing landscapes. She

creates these works using a mixture of hand-building, slab construction, and a mixture of slip-casted elements. The works are made of earthenware clay or porcelain, glazed, and fired in an electric kiln.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 686 11673 Website: www.sipalyte.blogspot.com E-mail: sipalyte@gmail.com

CERAMICS

TeXTILeS Textile art is one of the most dynamic fields in Lithuanian contemporary art. It has gone the farthest beyond the bounds of utilitarianism and applied design, using material as a conceptual tool that helps to emphasize various societal aspects and shape cultural identity. This is often hidden under the guise of a “nice and cozy” artistic object. Dialogue with tradition and folk craft is unavoidable for contemporary Lithuanian textile artists. Patterns featured by woven cloth and plated sashes, symbols, materials, national costume and home textiles serve as sets of codes that distinctly define an ethnic group. Another facet of textile is its feminine dimension (since pre-Christian times, spinning, weaving, sewing and needlework are typical crafts that women undertook in Lithuania), which is just as interesting for the development of themes by contemporary artists. It is not surprising that the archetypal and feminine dimensions are the ones that are most relevant to textile artists in Lithuania today. Severija Inčirauskaitė – Kriaunevičienė uses traditional cross stitching to transplant patterns and motifs from antique Lithuanian aprons, table-spreads, and napkins onto metal items, which are mostly utensils that aren’t used and not really welcomed in everyday life today. The artist brings them back to our attention (to exhibition halls or home interiors) as symbols for conflicts and gaps between time periods, mindsets and generations. The artists of the group Baltos kandys [Eng: White Moths] manipulate their material of choice for achieving different effects: they may set a mouth-wateringly lavish table, with food you would love to try, however it’s all made of felt; or create installations of dazzling flowers, or display other fantastic and grotesque objects from felt. Danguolė Brogienė uses typically textile materials and techniques to produce an optical, constructivist plane of a two-dimensional picture. Her ingenious method involves the use of strings of yarn instead of paint in order to make geometric abstractionist artworks and optical art, which are rather rare in Lithuania. Costume designer Indra Dovydėnaitė uses crochet and needlework, known from Lithuanian folk textile crafts and the techniques that are still familiar to Lithuanian women, to create unique and luxurious costumes that are accentuated with historical and retro style traits. Her art is fascinating due to her individual approach, subtle color schemes and openwork that create a romanticized silhouette.

Baltos kandys B alt o s

kand y s

( W hite

Baltos kandys is a group of six textile artists, who have been working together since 1998: Austė Jurgelionytė-Varnė, Karolina Kunčinaitė, Miglė Lebednykaitė, Rasa Leonavičiūtė, Laura Pavilonytė and Julija Vosyliūtė. The name of the group, White Moths, refers to wool, the medium they have chosen for their expression. The wool is felted, formed and

M o ths )

gr o up

dyed by hand, and attracts them no less than it attracts real moths. Unlike their wool-nibbling counterparts, they use wool to create objects like flat rugs, pictures, decorative felt bas-reliefs, lamps, shawls, scarves and accessories. Their work is a celebratory ritual, full of joy, energy and fun, and they manage to pass on this infectious attitude to others.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 615 32970 Website: www.baltoskandys.com E-mail: b_kandys@yahoo.com

TeXTILeS

BrogIenė D angu o l ė

Danguolė’s textiles are created using the unusual technique of silk weaving on a flat surface, while searching for a third dimension. Her decorative compositions have the special vibration of a shining silk thread, and are characterised by a precise modelling and a harmony of color tones. The compositions look different, depending on the angle you

B r o gien ė

look at them, whether you see them bathed in daylight or artificial light, which creates a more dynamic effect. She looks for dynamism and tranquility in the shades of color, and harmony and contrasts in their relationships. The subtle vibration of thin silk fibre in light creates improvised abstract forms reminiscent of Lithuanian folk textile patterns.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 652 36590 Website: www.brogiene.lt E-mail: danguolei@gmail.com

TeXTILeS

InčIrauskaItė S e v erija

I n č irauskait ė - K riaune v i č ien ė

Severija finds pleasure in objects that to most people are insignificant. An ordinary human being and mundane details from his or her life acquire an exceptionally important meaning in her work, while recognised icons of beauty are less important to her. A banal understanding of beauty and

utilitarian objects is what interests her and inspires her to create. She uses items from popular culture, commonly known as kitsch, in her art. When they appear in a new context, like a sort of quotation, they help to create works that reveal her personal experience and her point of view.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 680 53221 Website: www.severija.lt E-mail: severijaik@gmail.com

TeXTILeS

DovydėnaItė I ndra

D o v y d ė nait ė

Indra’s speciality is making handmade jersey. She constantly searches for new textures in her work, using ancient and traditional patterns and combining them for modern figures. Her work is made distinctive by the different textures she uses within a single piece, and by its multi-functionality. A garment can be transformed into a different shape and

have a different look. The creation of a legend is based on searching for inspiration in art, nature and history. You get a comfortable and practical garment when natural fibers are used, such as merino wool, mohair, cotton, linen and silk. The woman and her image, as an independent, elegant and refined individual, is at the heart of her work.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 688 78207 Website: www.indradovydenaite.lt E-mail: indrado@gmail.com

TeXTILeS

JeWelry Contemporary Lithuanian jewelry, in its material, shapes and proportions, as well as in its commitment to the clarity and finished nature of an idea, belongs to the traditions of the Baltic Sea region. It’s not only through research on jewelry that has turned up in archaeological digs and interpretations of this jewelry that make Lithuanian jewelers feel they have a strong affinity with Latvians, and particularly with Estonians, but it’s also the modern approach to jewelry they all have. One could say that a distinct feature of the Lithuanian school is the artists’ ambition to reflect upon the place of jewelry works within the broad context of conceptual art, which results in jewelry or accessories that are functional, aesthetic and conceptual at once. For instance, new techniques by the Lithuanian artists are based on traditional examples from the region (some examples are flowers or seeds enclosed in glass or plastic, which remind one of the tradition of amber with inclusions frequently that one finds in the Baltic Sea region) or examples from fashion design of the past, e.g. the refined shapes of Baroque costumes or footwear, which are transposed onto contemporary materials and jewelry. They also use minimalistic approaches (illustrated by objects fashioned from one material, and have one or two colors) or post-modernist caricature (with controversial solutions in material and form that question the idea of jewelry as an item of adornment). There is also an inclination to make jewelry as a modular system, and create individual items that can be combined into one object with a new expression and role. Whether they are artists with decades of experience, or are just emerging, the works by Ugnė Blažytė and Danas Tamašauskas, Laura Dailidėnienė, Šarūnė Vaitkutė and Dainius Narkus, Tadas Deksnys, Sandra Malaškevičiūtė, Darijus Gerlikas, and Ingrida Didika offer a range of materials and forms of expression that are sure to meet expectations of all kinds. Some of these jewelry pieces are meant for a closer and more intimate inspection and as such bravely depart with their utilitarian features. Other artists display their fascination with luxurious classics and adhering to latest fashion trends. Each individual piece, of course, has been created with the same goal, which is to attract attention and appreciation, and to become a piece that someone can call one’s own.

BLaŽyTė & TamaŠaUSkaS U gn ė

B L A ŽY T Ė

D anas

Danas and Ugnė are partners in both work and life. Even their initials almost form the word DUO. They usually develop their ideas without drawing any personal boundaries in the design or realization of an idea. Ugnė’s work may be more fluid, intertwined with narratives, and enriched with sketches, while Danas prefers geometric shapes and pure

T A M A Š A U S K A S

patterns. However, since they create their objects together, they focus on the search for connecting points and a shared vision. This is an attraction between two poles that complement one another. It provokes challenges, and encourages them to transcend the limits of identity in order to reach the creation of life, a creation higher than any art form.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 676 85858 Website: www.dumanai.lt E-mail: arevika@gmail.com

jewelry

DaILIDėnIenė L aura

D A I L I D Ė N I E N Ė

Known professionally as ‘Daili’, Laura is one of Lithuania’s most promising young fashion designers. Her creative approach to design is inspired by nature and travel. Her use of unusual materials, forms and textures gives her pieces a

tense quality, balanced by simple contours and a whimsical touch. Laura uses floral motifs in her accessories and what are known as 'frozen flowers' in her glass-silver jewelry.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 688 77792 Website: www.dailidesign.com E-mail: info@daili.lt

jewelry

DekSnyS T adas

Tadas uses silver, gold, titanium, copper and enamel in his work. He likes to interpret his pieces as decorative shapes that are suitable for titanium and enamel. He tries to infuse

D E K S N Y S

the cold metal with a sense of movement, a glimmer, and a lightness. Titanium and enamel are good for this, because they offer more color, more moods, and more life.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 687 13562 Website: www.tadasdeksnys.lt E-mail: tadasdeksnys@yahoo.com

jewelry

DIDIka I ngrida

Ingrida radiates inexhaustible energy, and has left her mark in various areas of expression, such as collections of personalised jewelry, textile accessories like scarves and shawls, and dress collections, however her main interest is jewelry. Her necklaces, rings and earrings seem to be infused with elements of the natural world, such as

D I D I K A

tiny lifelike insects, bees, moss and flowers, and finished with gold or silver and precious stones. When she works, she has a particular kind of person in mind, one who has a passion for design, a strong sense of style, and an appreciation of unique, modern jewelry.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 699 98686 Website: www.ingridadidika.com E-mail: ingriddidika@yahoo.com

jewelry

gErLIkaS D arijus

In his personalised items of jewelry, Darijus uses contemporary designs and classic jewelry-making techniques, setting stones with engravings in the Florentine tradition. He likes

G E R L I K A S

oxidised silver, gold and precious stones; but sapphires are his favourite.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 5 212 3143, +370 611 00640 Website: www.darijaus.com E-mail: darijaus.galerija@gmail.com

jewelry

maLaŠkEVIčIŪTė S andra

M A L A Š K E V I Č I Ū T Ė

Spindi Jewellery is the trademark of Sandra Malaškevičiūtė. Spindi works exclusively with plexiglass and rich metals to create pieces with clean precise lines and geometric forms. Refined, hand-polished or transparent surfaces are used instead of jewels, which let the beauty of the forms

themselves shine through. Spindi Jewellery collections are full of new forms and the artist’s explorations, from its Tulip Brooches and pixel building blocks, to the op-art collection, the Spectrum Series, vegetable jewelry, and conserved plants with jewelry installations.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 621 36034 Website: www.spindijewellery.com E-mail: sandra.malaskeviciute@gmail.com

jewelry

VaItkutė & Narkus Š ar ū n ė

Vaitkut ė

The light decorativity that is sometimes seen in the work of Šarūnė and Dainius combines eloquently with graceful and refined objects. They use minimalist tools to convey a unique poetry that is quick to catch and hold your attention. Their work forces you to look closely and to feel, rather

D ainius

N arkus

than to first try and understand. They appeal more to the senses than to the mind, offering the pleasure of aesthetics and the subtle harmony of the combined materials. The exceptional quality of their work, makes their work grand, yet self-contained, humble and deep.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 611 58317 Website: www.gauau.lt E-mail: sarunedainius@gauau.lt

jewelry

glass The past few decades have seen Lithuanian glass artists embrace diverse and highly individualized forms of expression. The artists employ glass as special material, one that is fragile, translucent and transparent, to create unorthodox contemporary works. Small-format glass sculptures, stained glass works for homes, glass and mirror works, unique glass vessels and vases combine traditional glass manufacturing techniques and an interdisciplinary approach by integrating photography, screen printing, image projection, and metal inclusions along with other techniques. Remigijus Kriukas’ hot glass studio Grasremis, established in Panevėžys in 2000, has not only become a laboratory for his own work, but also a well-equipped facility for hosting international glass symposiums. Kriukas primarily makes interior objects characterized by a purity of color, expressive form and a balance between transparency and opaqueness, which allows a 3-dimensional work of glass to have a strong command of the surrounding space. Viktoras Daildėnas is the kind of glass artist that believe that the utilitarian nature of glass artworks is not their most important characteristic. He searches for, and finds an aesthetic quality of materialness, and opts for such forms and themes in order to elevate his works to the order of natural phenomena. The execution of his works, by contrast, demonstrates precise rationality, a calculated balance, and carefully weighted composition. Alongside small scale sculpture in glass, stained glass works for sacred buildings and unique and expressive glass details for interiors, Lina Austė has experience in designing architectural spaces and light planning in buildings, combined with unorthodox interior solutions with glass (including the use of window-shop glass and glazing). Her works are concise, with a style that is partial to natural color schemes and demonstrates a contemporary treatment of history.

austÄ&#x2014; L ina

Lina uses various firing techniques to create her pieces. She makes glass jewelry, cast and fused glass sculptural works, and decorative installations for specific interiors.

A ust Ä&#x2014;

She is fascinated and inspired by the structures, shapes and patterns of nature.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 603 34438 Website: www.linaglass.com E-mail: linaglassart@gmail.com

glass

DaILIDėnaS Vikt o ras

Viktoras has a background in stained glass, but he has also demonstrated his talent in works created with hot and cast-glass techniques. He often combines glass with other materials, such as ice, wood or metal, emphasising

D A I L I D Ė N A S

the qualities of each material, and at the same time expressing his attitude towards the processes of life. Viktoras is currently preparing for exhibitions, and is also deeply involved with his company Dailidesign.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 688 86086 Website: www.dailidenas.lt E-mail: viktoras@dailidenas.lt

glass

krIUkaS R emigijus

Remigijus’ work can be defined as a mixture of harmonious rational design thinking and the decorative visual perception of the material. His pieces defy description. Their impact is emotional, because they contain a certain magical and secret state, reality and illusion, creating sensations with deep allusions. Remigijus creates visually brilliant art

K R I U K A S

objects. The logic in the proportions of their fluid forms is comparable to that of modern architecture, both in the ratio between mass and volume, and in the sequence of surfaces and lines, which makes these small-scale objects so monumental in scope.

Location: Panevėžys, Lithuania Phone: +370 686 66844 Website: www.glasremis.lt E-mail: glasremis@takas.lt

glass

LEaTHEr Lithuanian leather works are characterized by a Baltic modesty as well as a harmonious mix of constructivist aesthetics and refined aesthetic subtlety. In Lithuania, leather crafts and bookbinding are associated with luxury and customized items. People who own these kinds of hand-made leather objects are regarded as aficionados, while those making these leather objects seek a style that is relevant. Book binding, stylistically harmonized collections of accessories, handbags and office supplies – all of these contribute to the refined character of the people own them. Virginija Giniotytė‘s artistic leather works appear as playful visual manipulations based on the familiarity of shape. A box for jewelry or stationary supplies may remind one of the look of hot pepper or an Ancient Greek pitcher. Her pieces are characterized by high quality leather, expressive form and color, along with mood. She creates primarily small leather objects used to accentuate interiors, however she is well-versed in the language of sculpture, and creates large-scale sculptures out of wood. The bookbinding and leather accessories of Dalia Marija Šaulauskaitė feature a characteristically conciseness of form, as well as an emphasis of the material and its functionality. The artist creates leather covers for Bibles, albums, folio editions, original notebooks, and conceptual leather panels. Aušra Petroškienė makes unique leather jewelry and accessories, quite frequently combining jewelry and leather. Though utilitarian in character, her works display a subtly minimalist style and harmonious mixing of leather and metal, as well as calm colors.

GInIoTyTė Virginija

Virginija is skilled in the art of working with leather and wood, enriching her work with new materials and textures. Her pieces show the internal harmony of materials like papier-mâché, batik, enamel and plywood, together with

G I N I O T Y T Ė

her techniques. Aesthetics, a symbiosis of ornamentality and functionality, and a balance between applied and pure art, are all keys to her work. All her objects are strictly handmade, from their inception to their completion.

Location: Klaipėda, Lithuania Phone: +370 615 79956 Website: www.virginiote.com E-mail: virginiote@gmail.com

leather

peTroŠkIenė A ušra

P E T R O Š K I E N Ė

Aušra offers an unusual intepretation of form and utility in her accessories. They suit the wardrobe of a detached but particularly modern, active and dynamic woman, who can take a contemporary, wearable object of exceptional design, and interpret it as a belt, or a piece of jewelry. Her works enchant you both with their precision of form and

leather/ mIxed medIa

their unique design. By combining the plasticity of leather with the cold geometric forms of polished metal parts, Aušra makes three-dimensional conceptual sculptural objects that are not just to be admired at exhibitions, but can also be worn by any confident modern woman.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 652 40299 Website: www.madebyausra.com E-mail: a.petroskiene@gmail.com

ŠaULaUSkaITė D alia

M arija

Dalia’s work reflects the discoveries that she has made, and she uses them to create pieces of art and leather design that bring out the versatility of the leather and express her ideas through the simplicity of color and form. She works mainly with leather jewelry design, bookbinding and conceptual projects. Her works stand out by their

Š A U L A U S K A I T Ė

rationality, mathematical precision and calculation; however, the simple geometric shapes, symbolic color contrasts, rhythms, sequences, and semantics of detail create quite a complex and multitiered field of implications. The splitting of the pieces into several parts provides them with everchanging capacities and flexibility.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 685 60216 Website: www.dmsaul.com E-mail: dmsaul@gmail.com

leather

paper Lithuania regularly hosts and organizes symposiums and annual international exhibitions of paper art that bring together artists from different specialties interested in testing the possibilities of this multifunctional material. Paper is a whimsical medium, and just like in textile or other artistic crafts, works using paper require a particular thoroughness and precision, with the eye for detail that a jeweler has. This applies even more so to fine pattern paper cuttings done with scissors or other instruments. Klaidas Navickas uses the technique of paper cutting, one of the most original forms of Lithuanian crafts since the 19th century. Historically, seasonal and religious holidays dictated the kinds of ornaments and complex patterns used for paper cuttings. Some kinds of paper cuttings were used as pictures or postcards for loved ones, while others were attached to window panes or sills during different holidays and celebrations. Navickas uses the techniques of this traditional folk art to create fine cut paper narratives in his ingenious style. His paper cuttings, which are fully or partially symmetrical, show a deep connection to folk songs, tales, and cultural and historical motifs from Lithuania and elsewhere.

navIckas K L A I D A S

Klaidas has excelled at the art of paper cutting for more than 20 years. In keeping with the paper cutting art tradition in Lithuania, he has developed his own technique and style. Every papercut he makes tells us a different story, whether it be a folk song or a folk tale, a proverb, a joke, or an everyday event. In order to enjoy these stories, you have to

N a v ickas

take a very close look at each papercut. Each one is made from a single piece of paper. Klaidas makes frameable pictures in various sizes, greetings cards and bookplates. He also works with other artists to adapt papercuts to furniture and textile design.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 687 90650 Website: www.klaidaspapercuts.lt E-mail: info@klaidaspapercuts.lt

paper

furnIture Contemporary Lithuanian furniture makers are collaborating with specialists of different branches of art, including textile, glass, and painting, and are including elements of such works into their furniture with a view of enriching their product. This allows for expanding the understanding of furniture as a conceptual work of art and helps those buying these works create a unique environment for their home. Work by Lithuanian artists has gotten a lot of attention at world furniture and interior design exhibitions over the last decade. Interior artist Indra Marcinkevičienė had a successful start at the international furniture design fairs in Singapore. She has created a collection of unique furniture that includes chairs, armchairs and screens in vibrant colours, combining solid wood and metal materials with soft textile. The back rests she has made for chairs feature strings of colorful wooden balls, which most likely have their origins in the mechanical calculators used in Lithuania throughout the entire 20th century. In designing a piece of furniture, she creates a piece of art that possesses its own idiosyncratic meanings, combining comfort, ergonomics, and a luxurious appearance. The balance of artworks and furniture that go together with it, as well as playfulness and originality, provide a can’t-help-but-be-amazed tone to her interiors. According to her, one’s home should reflect the owner and represent a dynamic, creative space.

marCInkEVIČIEnĖ I ndra

M A R C I N K E V I Č I E N Ė

Indra creates passionate furniture. Once you see it, you will want to come back to it again and again, like coming home to a place that is infused with love and peace. The ideas of love and peace are appropriate, because they symbolize the rejection of greyness, apathy and mass production. Life is too short to spend your time being bored! This furniture

has a close affinity with art: the elegant fantasies of Dalí, the depth of color of Matisse, the rationality of Picasso. This is furniture for making the body and the soul feel better: it massages your body, brings pleasure to your eyes, and gives joy to your soul. It is furniture for people who love life and are not afraid to enjoy it.

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania Phone: +370 655 73337 Website: www.interioraddictions.com E-mail: indra@interjeraibesaiko.lt

furnIture

Published by The International Cultural Programme Centre, Lithuania www.koperator.lt www.cultureguide.lt Introductory texts by Virginija Vitkienė Translation and editing by Irena Jomantienė, Olga Lempert, Joseph Everatt and Jayde Will Graphic design and layout by Prim Prim Printed in Lithuania by Kopa