After a successful showcase of Lithuanian design at the “State of design” festival in Berlin, Lithuanian Design Forum continued its journey and brought Lithuanian design to Israel. On the occasion of Jerusalem design week some Lithuanian design pieces were showcased in Jerusalem for the very first time, each of them linked to the theme SUN & SHADOW.

The contemporary Lithuanian design exhibition SUN&SHADOW presented more than 10 cases of how different geographical conditions influence daily life. Lithuania is located in northern Europe, more than 2,800 km away from Israel. While people in Israel tend to try to hide in the shadows on hot days, Lithuanians put a lot of effort into getting as much sun as possible during the whole year. Different weather conditions influence different ways of living, making a huge impact on people’s moods, habits, architecture, etc. Design is one of the tools that can be used to bring in an element of optimism and solve problems connected with seasonal depression, cold and humidity.

The exhibition was open to the public from June 8 to June 15 at the Hansen Culture House. The project is part of the Jerusalem Design Week program and is co-financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

Participants of the Exhibition:

LUITAS lamp
Designers: Simonas Tarvydas, Justė Kubilinskaitė / INDI Design Studio

…LITHUANIA HAS AROUND 1000 kWh/m² OF SOLAR ENERGY DURING THE YEAR. WHEN THE DAYS ARE DARK, ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING IS NECESSARY.

Light is an essential element for well-being, inner harmony and warmth. During the cold season in Lithuania the days become very short and people experience a lack of sun and natural light. That’s why the significance of home light sources is so important. Simplicity, natural elements and tranquillity are the inspirations for the creative team at INDI who make these unique eco-friendly lamps.

SWAMP mirror
Designer: Barbora Adamonytė-Keidūnė / NAMUOS

…THE AVERAGE ANNUAL PRECIPITATION IS 400-600 MM.

The mirror SWAMP was inspired by rainy autumns, when all of the streets are covered in swamp-like pools.

CUMULUS lounge seating
Designer: Kazuko Okamoto / SEDES REGIA

…WHEN DAYS ARE COLD, PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME AT HOME AND BECOME MORE INTROSPECTIVE.

CUMULUS soft furniture is aimed especially at public spaces where people crave a little privacy.

PILL cabinet
Designer: Dalius Razauskas / EMKO

…WHEN PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF TIME INDOORS, INTERIOR ELEMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO BRING SOME JOY.

The multifunctional cabinet Pill looks like the sun and works great in the ‘treatment’ against clutter and messy environments. Pill is a circular cabinet that can be fixed to a wall, instantly transforming it into a fully functional workspace, dressing table, even a bar! Attach it at standard table height, a bit higher or a bit lower – it’s up to you. The shelving system inside is designed with the idea of allowing the user to change and adapt it easily: it can fit a laptop, files, catalogues, books or any other personal belongings. Pill also comes equipped with sockets and with the option of integrating LED lights. The materials and fittings ensure a reliable desk and table-top stability. Pill suits every kind of interior perfectly, enabling you to have a hidden space for your items.

HALF-MOON candle holder
Designer: Barbora Adamonytė-Keidūnė / NAMUOS

…NATURAL BEESWAX CANDLES BRING COZINESS AND PURIFY THE DRY AND DUSTY AIR THAT RESULTS FROM HOME HEATING.

The candle holder HALF-MOON enlarges the candle’s flame, enveloping the whole room in a warm light. Beeswax candles look like pieces of glowing coal.

JOLLYPOP lollypop
Designer: MARCH DESIGN STUDIO

…EVEN SMALL, WELL-DESIGNED THINGS CAN MAKE DAILY LITHUANIAN LIFE A LITTLE SUNNIER, HELPING YOU TO DISPEL THE SHADOWS.

Jollypop is a sweet-looking, sweet-tasting handmade lollipop, just like lollipops used to be. Natural colours, a homely taste, a mouthwatering appearance. Each Jollypop is unique and carefully made with loving hands. It takes you back, instantly! GMO-free, gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan-friendly!

SUNSET SUNRISE kinetic lamp
Designer: Barbora Adamonytė-Keidūnė / EMKO

…THE LACK OF SUNSHINE CAN CAUSE SEASONAL DEPRESSION FOR PEOPLE IN THE NORTH. SOME 3-5% OF LITHUANIANS SUFFER FROM THIS KIND OF ILLNESS – AND MORE THAN 50% FEEL THE SYMTOMS.

It has been proven that changes in light intensity during the day can bring beneficial effects to human health. From blues in the morning to indigo in the evening, the SUNSET SUNRISE LAMP by designer Barbora Adamonytė-Keidūnė is a kinetic illumination device that can be moved from side to side. When adjusted by hand, the colour gradient and light output change on its rainbow-like surface.

BOOK WITHOUT A NAME
Designers: Tadas Kazakevičius, Karolis Rūkas
Clients: Alma Littera, Mykolas Majauskas

…LITHUANIA IS ONE OF THE LEADING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD FOR SUICIDE (30.8 SUICIDES PER 100,000 CITIZENS). THAT’S THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE EU AVERAGE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SUICIDE AMONG THEIR FAMILY OR FRIENDS. A BOOK OF BROKEN SILENCE…

Seeking professional psychological help is still very stigmatised in Lithuania, and many sufferers become deeply depressed and even take their own lives. It has become a new normal, a statistic no one seems to care about anymore. We had to break the silence, to help people start talking and look for help. We considered a book as a simple self-help tool. So with the help of writers Elvyra Kučinskaitė and Mykolas Majauskas, 18 stories about people who have experienced the trauma of suicide among those closest to them were collected. The stories contain their thoughts, feelings, pain and strength. This turned into therapeutic reading, helping readers to take the first steps towards professional help. We have also published a limited-edition book sent to influencers and opinion leaders. Every single story is ‘packaged’, the pages sealed together, so that you have to literally break the silence, tear the pages apart and read the story.

THE SHAWL STORYTELLERS
Designer: Gabrielė Ugnė Petrauskaitė / Vilnius Academy of Arts

…SO COMMUNICATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

The main idea of this project is based on the close relationship between children and their grandparents. Communicating this affectionate connection takes the form of a scarf with narrative Lithuanian fairy tales that are rich in mystical symbols, objects and natural motifs. With the help of augmented reality, static illustrations are joined with motion graphics, reviving them and expanding the perception of vision. These animations extend the narrative of a fairy tale, marking its main events. Natural sounds and animation trigger visual and sonic perceptions at the same time. This idea resulted in an exceptional product merging educational, aesthetic and functional features.

HELLO! MOON knitted beanie hat
Designer: Aušra Kačinskaitė, Viltė Martusevičienė / HELLO! MOON

…THE BIG PROBLEM IS HOW TO MAKE KIDS WEAR REFLECTORS. MANY CHILDREN TRAVELLING TO AND FROM SCHOOL IN DARKNESS ARE BARELY VISIBLE ON THE ROADS.

The HELLO! MOON handmade knitted hat with reflective pom-pom reveals the mystery in the twilight – it reflects light in the dark! The reflective pom-pom is filled with light-reflecting threads, so every time it catches the light in the dark it shines! In daytime, the reflective function can be summoned by taking a picture of it with a flash. The hat was inspired by the designers’ long-lasting fascination with the moon and moonlight.

OREFLECTOR reflective badge
Designer: Martynas Kazimierėnas / MARCH DESIGN STUDIO

…THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED ON THE ROADS IS 240 PER YEAR. MORE THAN 65% ARE KILLED DURING HOURS OF DARKNESS. YET PEOPLE STILL DON’T LIKE TO WEAR REFLECTORS AS THEY TEND TO LOOK UNFASHIONABLE AND RUIN THE OUTFIT.

Safety first! As well as style! The Oreflector reflective badge and buttons shine in the dark like a supernova, making you visible at night and looking great in the early morning too. That’s why you don’t have to take it off. Wear Oreflector without ruining your outfits, and without getting run over.

Event photo credit: Dor Kedmi.