Rue is an exploration of Lithuanian imagery and cultural practices. Lithuania’s occupation by the USSR led my family to escape to Canada in the 1940s. Rue imagines a Lithuania not prevented from developing a cultural identity of its own. In this world, global influences combine with Lithuanian traditions, including Lithuania’s ancient pagan religion, Romuva, which centers on the importance of nature using symbols and imagery. These symbols and imagery are key sources of inspiration for this world. People gather for festivals and rituals, dancing and hunting for forest mushrooms. This way of life is reflected in the clothing people wear. Knitwear allows them to move unrestricted, free to express themselves as they wish. The pieces in this collection were made from the perspective of someone living in this world, incorporating Lithuanian traditions with an idealist desire for new ways of cultural expression. Rue, or ruta, is Lithuania’s national flower. It can be found in much of Lithuanian folk art, and inspired many of these designs. Lithuanian culture could not be expressed openly during Soviet occupation. Rue imagines a life of free expression and creativity for Lithuanians, drawing from closely-held beliefs and principles. Through this visualization, one can imagine that world as real.
Mass Exodus 2025
