LA DISRUPTION ARRIVA DAL NORD, PRONTI PER THE BALTIC VIBE?

Donata Jutkienė. Lithuanian curator and textile artist. Design Curator of Kaunas2022 European Capital of Culture Born in 1987, Kupiškis Lithuania.
Education: 2016 – 2020 Artist (Textile Art Media), Vilnius Academy of Art (Kaunas Faculty) (BA) 2011 – 2013 Management (Culture Management and Culture Policy), Vilnius 2009 – 2010 Studies at the University of Calabria under the ERASMUS program 2006 – 2010 Academy of Art (MA) Art History (Art History and Art Criticism), Vilnius Academy of Art (BA). Work Experience 2021– current Curator of Designing Happiness program, Kaunas 2022, Kaunas 2018-2020 Project coordinator, Vilnius Academy of Art Kaunas Faculty, Kaunas 2012– 2017 specialist. Kupiskis Etnography Museum, Kupiskis 2011-2012 Tour guide National Gallery of Art, Vilnius.

Baiba Dzenīte. Latvian glass artist, designer and founder of the brand BAIBA GLASS Born in 1988, Aizkraukle Latvia. I remember observing and admiring wonders of Nature since the time of my childhood. The dew is reminiscent of water pearls to me, which allows me to adore them without touching otherwise they will disappear. The phenomenon of fog seemed especially mysterious – realising yourself as part of the moment when the breath of Earth surrounds you…
I guess these and other phenomena teach us respectfulness towards Nature and Universe. COLLECTION CALM, 2017. Inspired by two phenomena that happens in nature fog & dew, this signature collection offers a set of three uniquely formed vases and a sophisticated bowl & tray. Each object is made from free formed mouth–blown glass that reveals the plasticity and brilliant shine of the glass through special imprints, where the glass once touched metal. An Antique Latvian linen-craft tool was used to achieve this imprint and it has become a distinctive feature of Collection Calm. The employment of this archaic artefact signifies the timeless relationship between Nature’s phenomena and ancient Latvian craft tradition which is expressed in Contemporary Glass Art through symbolic ‘imprint of time’.

Ieva Birģele. Latvian glass artist and designer Born in 1990, Riga Latvia. Collection GEMMAE, 2021. GEMMAE /from Latin. buds/. Blown and hot-shaped glass vases. Unique design vases are never repeatable glass objects. Collection Tears, 2021. Tears of the earth, tears of suffering, loss, and changes. Always pure and unique. Made as a symbolic reflection of human influence on planet earth. It calls for reflection on the impact on the natural world and its negative consequences. Each object contains a piece of soil that in response to the hot mass of glass, forms a unique and never repeatable phenomenon. In this way reflecting and recalling the truthfulness, naturalness, and purity that the earth has always had. Collection Earth, 2022. Land, world, ground, soil, creation, mold, dirt, dust, ash, sphere.. it`s all covered under one name earth. Each glass object “Earth” contains a piece of soil and creates one new and never repeatable phenomena.

Laura Rainė. Lithuanian glass artist and designer Born in 1988, Kaunas Lithuania. BODY OF WATER. Swamps are one of the most important parts of the Lithuanian landscape. At the same time, it is perhaps the most ignored, endangered element of our country, despite its special ecological and aesthetic significance. Watersheds have long been an integral part of people’s lives – lakes, rivers, swamps and especially marshes and ravines, as mysterious places mentioned in Lithuanian mythology and folklore. The harmony of the island and the aquarium creates the tension of heights and gaps by which holiness lives. This idea consists of three sculptures of blown glass of different sizes and shapes. Objects of different shades are given meaning by polished planes, which enable to see the inside. “SWAMP 01”, Blown Glass, 2022 “SWAMP 02”, Blown Glass, 2022 “SWAMP 03”, Blown Glass, 2022.

Monika Gedrimaitė. Lithuanian ceramic artist and designer Born in 1990, Vilnius Lithuania. The author consistently explores the dialectic between the vessel as a material and conceptual derivative. The artist is interested in utilitarian foundation of ceramics and new uses. By universalizing the meaning of the vessel in her work, she reduces the latter in her work until there is only a trace, a hint that does not refer to specificity. Using the technical methods of creating and deconstructing ceramics, the author presents the objects of an imaginary function, which are not necessarily related to the original purpose, giving them a new concept. A Rock and the Wind Collection – A Rock and the Wind are the artist’s allegorical terms, reflecting the different poles of the collection. The Rock defines what points to the material part of the work, to the reduced basic elements. The Wind describes the part of ceramic technological process and development of a thought. These aspects deconstruct the usual division of objects into certain functions and technical ways of performance. Together, a Rock and the Wind play an oxymoron to the perpetual flow of time, to the vanishing touch and the silent collapse. “A Rock and the Wind” (1) – Stoneware, transparent glaze, 3D hand-printing, 2019. “A Rock and the Wind” (2) – Stoneware, pigments & oxides, various glazes, author’s technique, 2019. “A Rock and the Wind” (3) – Stoneware, glazes, author’s technique, 2019.

Kristel Kärdi. Estonian ceramic and glass artist and designer. Born in 1981, Kuressaare Estonia. The set “Nilas” , 2021, slip cast porcelain (cups and jug). Nilas is the first bearing ice crust that forms on the nordic sea ice. So it is like in life, where commitment and time are the prerequisites for the permanent emergence of something. “Rocky white”, 2022 and “Rocky wood”, 2022, variations and deformations of plaster molds. Slip cast porcelain. In this artworks I deal with the textural reflections of nature, looking for parallels with human relationships, fragility and beauty, but also with the harshness in it. “Ice stone”, 2021, glass and stoneware – This is an art object where I deal with the relationship between partners. How relationships work together and what roles someone plays. Are we switching roles?

Jānis Kononovs (Latvia). Classical Elements. At the origin of any philosophy about the structure of the world, there are four, five fundamental classical elements – earth, water, fire, air, space, etc. Each element has its own properties, but they are also associated with a certain form. The form begins as a philosophical concept, then becomes a mathematical model, further developing into an environmental object for the human contemplation, as well as into the architectural objects, which give us the physical opportunity to experience forms. Interacting with classical elements help us to connect with the cosmos, with nature, enables one to connect with the higher planes of consciousness, as well as enables to find the common pattern that connects us all on both the molecular and spiritual level. Each form and element has its own influence on the human being, emotional state, energy and vitality.