During my stay in Nida Art Colony I wanted to improve my watercolour techniques by drawing trees every day. I researched the Lithuanian tradition of the Krikštai, the Kuranian wooden grave boards. The result was the publication Doing the human thing (Nida) about women, trees and death.

above: publication p.13-14

text says “That’s the house of local artist Eduardas Jonušas. He died two years ago. He used to make the Krikštai for the deceased in Nida. Krikštai are grave boards made from wood. Their shape is up to the person, it can show birds or horse, flowers, and crosses. Krikštai for men are made of male trees and for women of female trees. We put them on the feet end of the grave so the dead body can stand up with the help of the board on the day of Prisikėlimas. The souls of the dead go in the trees. Women live in Liepa and Eglė, men in Ąžuolas, Klevas and Beržas. Old people go live in fruit trees.”

residency from 1 - 31 August 2016 in Nida Art Colony (LT)

publication Doing the human thing (Nida), 2016