table “above the water”, glass, ash, 2023
SWAMP FOR LAUMĖS
Once inseparable from everyday life, the mythological beings, water fairies known as Laumės, have become forgotten. Being intermediaries between fate and humans, Laumės in Lithuanian mythology reflect the desire to control one's destiny. It is said that, like other mythical creatures in Lithuania, they live in water, whispering that it is the field of the unconscious.
While exploring antique Lithuanian furniture storages and experimenting with glass and wood, I created design objects - a table "Above the Water'' and a lighting fixture "Underwater” torn by the metal claws of Laumės (also known as cnc mashine). Together they create a swamp for Laumės - a place between myth and reality, between childhood memories and the unknown of the future that often hinders us experiencing the present. These objects are made from 24 wooden planks from my grandfather's workshop, poetically embodying the cycle of a day. Placed within the space and reflecting the surrounding environment through glass, these objects give meaning to the present moment, defining place and time. In myths, those factors are crucial for fulfilling a prophesied destiny.
Through material research, questioning traditions and craft heritage, this project proposes a new design method, combining traditional crafts with new technologies and modern approach to design.
