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Lithuanian Artist, Birutė Nomeda Stankūnienė is travelling all the way from Vilnius in Lithuania with a collection of her paintings for an exhibition, in Sherborne Abbey Dorset. The Exhibition, ‘Embracing Life’ will be a wonderful opportunity for people to enjoy Birute’s abstract artworks in the magnificent surroundings of Sherborne Abbey, which for many, is still the 'cathedral of Dorset'. She is delighted that Lithuanian Art is being welcomed to this region and being exhibited in such a beautiful sacred place - probably the first Lithuanian art exhibition seen here since its foundation by St Aldhelm in AD 705. The exhibition is running from 21st February to 28th March, opening hours Monday - Sunday, 8am - 4pm and entrance to the Abbey and the exhibition is free.

The exhibition, which takes place throughout the Season of Lent, speaks of embracing life's challenges. The cornerstone of the exhibition is the painting series, 'Seven Feelings according to the Book of Job', which consists of seven paintings accompanied by texts from the Book of Job. With colours ranging from the delicate to the vibrant, and arresting thought-provoking images and shapes, a voice is given to intense feelings and emotions experienced on the journey towards forgiveness and reconciliation.

Other works in the exhibition expand and complement the theme of facing and embracing the challenges of life, including: ‘Stigma I’ and ‘Stigma II’ which capture a visceral expression of human vulnerability and trauma; ‘The (Story of a) Maple Leaf ‘, a series of four paintings, showing life’s cycle using mesmerizing colours, and ’Waiting’, an almost ethereal evocation of the time when you first catch the scent of spring in the air.

Birute is fascinated by the dialogue between herself as an artist and the spectator of her works, and intrigued to know Dorset’s response to her art: ‘For me to create, that is to paint, means to think, communicate, solve and discover - it means to live. It is a great joy and test every time I exhibit my works; every painting is a part of my inner self, put out there in front of the spectator’s eyes, to be observed and reinterpreted. Painting as a unique means of communication allows me to speak of the things I cannot express in words. Once the paintings are on display, I cannot help but wonder how the conversation between my work and the spectators is going to go.’

In part, her inspiration for the exhibition and her works are rooted in her childhood and youth in occupied Lithuania: ‘I was born and grew up in Lithuania during its occupation by the USSR, where a ‘happy and perfect life’ was guaranteed by the communist system. At that time, to have faith, to question or wonder meant to resist the soviet regime.  Lithuania was and remains a catholic country, and religion became one of the forms of resistance as well as a way to preserve your national identity. Such was the context that influenced my life and paintings. Therefore I relate to the themes of the Book of Job not only as a person, but as a citizen of my country. I believe that the most important existential questions are often rooted in everyday life experiences, which in turn are shaped by our values and the changing cultural context in which they are located. It seems to me that the experience of suffering is often the point at which we face life's questions most honestly and acutely.’

About the artist:  Birute Nomda Stankuiene born - 1963 Vilnius, Lithuania.

1987 - Kaunas Technology University. 2009 - Vilnius Academy of Art.

Since starting to fulfill her dreams of becoming a fulltime professional artist, ten years ago, Birute Nomeda Stankuniene has graduated from Vilnius Academy of Art and opened her personal gallery in the very heart of Vilnius old town. She has established a strong foothold in the Lithuanian art scene and her work has been showcased in Lithuanian national and international exhibitions over twenty-five times. A book has been published based solely on the artist’s painting series and her art has been featured on IUOMA publications, online blogs and has also been selected as part of a weekly collection of the renowned Saatchi Art Online gallery. Birute’s art works have been purchased by private collectors from Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Holland, Denmark, UK and US. She is also a member of IUOMA (International Union of Mail-Artists), and Slow Art Day movement.