Are you widely renowned for your work in enamel?
At the dawn of Lithuania’s Independence, members of the Seimas wanted to order badges in the shape of the Lithuanian tricolour flag, and I was the only artist who had the necessary colours and experience in working with enamel, so that honourable task was entrusted to me.
What attracts you to enamel?
Its colours. I find colour necessary in my work and in my life. Metal is pretty monochrome, first I tried using gemstones, but I soon replaced them with enamel and the unlimited colour possibilities it provided. I regularly participate in the Limoges International Biennial of Enamel where I discovered the unlimited possibilities of enamel.
© Jurgita Ludaviciene
What does it take to create a good enamel piece?
No matter what you create, there needs to be that little fire burning inside you that never goes out. You always need to surprise yourself in what you make, and even better is to surprise others.
How much of your work is tradition and how much is innovation?
In my work, only the execution is traditional, everything else is innovation. It is very important to have a foundation in traditional making techniques, as without it no improvisation is possible. But with that foundation, you can create something new and unexpected, keeping it within the enamel genre.