Lithuanian Folklore/Pagan History Research Brief - Final Outcome & Evaluation

Lithuanian Folk Art - Textiles

Lithuanian Folk Art - Palm Sunday Flowers

Lithuanian Folk Art - Straw Decorations

Lithuanian Folk Art - Crosses

Lithuanian Folk Art - Metalwork

Lithuanian Folk Art - Lithuanian Mardi Gras

Lithuanian Folk Art - Amber Jewellery

Lithuanian Folk Art - Easter Eggs

Lithuanian Folk Art - Woodcarving & Statues

Final Outcome:
The final outcome is a postcard series that showcases and celebrates the topic of 'Lithuanian Folk Art'. The concept for the outcome was to present the topic as something that should be appreciated and treasured. The concept and content of the outcome was inspired and informed by extensive research into Lithuanian Folklore and Pagan histories. The outcome is a series of 9 A5 postcards, printed using lino printing techniques, onto standard white card paper stock, and bound with a tracing paper sleeve that boasts a lino printed stamp. The 9 themes communicated within the postcards are: Crosses, Easter Eggs, Jewellery, Metalwork, Straw Decorations, Textiles, Woodcarvings & Statues, Palm Sunday Flowers and Lithuanian Mardi Gras. These themes were chosen as they are traditional forms of Lithuanian folk art, that is still practiced today. The format of postcard in which they are presented supports the concept. Postcards in our modern day society have evolved from being something sent in the mail, into a collectable. People collect them for various reasons, including the desire to appreciate their artistic expression and meaningfulness. By placing the Lithuanian folk art topic within a postcard format, the artistic expression and meaning of the topic is brought to attention as something that should also be collectable. This supports the concept, as it presents the Lithuanian folk art topic as worthy of being appreciated and treasured enough to be collected. The postcards are printed using traditional lino printing technique, to reflect upon how Lithuanian folk art is also traditional within Lithuanian culture. It was also used to make the postcard series more unique and visually engaging, as the printing technique generated an interesting and interactive texture. Standard white card paper stock was used to make the postcard prints sturdier and durable, as well as to allow the colour and detail of the prints to stand out against the bright white stock. A monochrome colour scheme was utilised throughout the outcome, to allow all attention to fall on the topic and content of the postcards. The postcard series is bound with a somewhat see-through tracing paper sleeve that boats a lino printed stamp with the name 'Lithuanian Folk Art' carved into it. A see-through sleeve was chosen to allow the attention to fall onto the postcards, their texture and their content. The lino-printed stamp was placed to provide context of what the postcard series is about. The production of the postcard series from start to finish was complete using analogue techniques. This was done to symbolise how Lithuanian folk art is also unique and hand-made. In the same way that not one re-production of the postcard series will be the same as the last, the Lithuanian folk art examples presented within this postcards are also all different and so should be individually appreciated and treasured.

Evaluation:
The brief's aim was to research into the history of Lithuanian folklore and pagan traditions, and then to present that research in a way that would be accessible to an English-speaking audience. I believe I have met the brief's aim successfully, as not only did I allow the research and topic to guide me throughout my design process, but also because the final outcome is accessible to both English-speaking audience and non-English speaking audiences. Although this was not intentional, the choice of a postcard format made me communicate the Lithuanian folk art topic mostly through the use of illustration and visual communication. In doing so, this gives the outcome the potential to inform and communicate with non-English speaking audiences as well. By embracing the research and allowing it to guide me, I was able to bring to attention an area within Lithuanian folklore and pagan history that still exists and has influence today - folk art. I believe what was most successful was that I narrowed down the research into 9 very clear topics within Lithuanian folk art, and was therefore able to communicate them in a concise and visually engaging way. What is most interesting is that these 9 folk art expressions are still practiced today, which gives the audience a unique and unexpected insight into Lithuanian culture. To improve the outcome I believe I should have explored the use of colour and different materials. The black and white colour scheme that is currently utilised, although effective at giving all attention to the content of the postcards, is also a little dull and may not be very eye-catching or enticing for the audience. The use of material and paper stock could also have been more exciting, by experimenting with different material I could have an combination between paper and ink that highlighted the texture of the lino prints even more, which potentially could have made the outcome more visually engaging. Nonetheless, I believe the final outcome for this brief has been successful because it communicates and brings to attention a topic that is not very commonly discussed, about a country that is not commonly known, and engages the audience by giving the opportunity to collect, educate themselves and appreciate a part of Lithuanian culture.