Živilė Steniukynaitė-Fornari “Encrypted”

“Encrypted” is a visual journey through time, cultures, and symbols, in which artist Živilė Steniukynaitė-Fornari explores visual codes passed down from generation to generation and their relationship with the contemporary world. Through her textile works, the artist employs the ancient Indian technique of wooden block printing and traditional divonas patterns from the Dzūkija region, crafting a unique dialogue between two cultures.
The project is rooted in a deep interest in tradition and natural dyeing methods—the featured cotton canvases are printed with plant-based dyes such as indigo, madder root, and turmeric. These works reveal the possibilities of layered color, while integrated glitch effects—evoking printing errors or encoding disruptions—generate unexpected, contemporary narratives.
The artist’s residency in Ajrakhpur (Gujarat, India), where she collaborated with local craftsmen, offered a deeper insight into the nuances and paradoxes of the craft: the evolving relationship between artisan and artist, the impact of an accelerating world on ancient textile-making traditions, and the compromises between heritage and modern-day needs.
“Encrypted” is not only an artistic reflection on identity and cultural memory, but also an invitation to view traditional patterns anew—as a living, shifting code where ancestral handcraft meets the search for contemporary identity. The exhibition invites viewers to pause and tune into the language of symbols—between wood, plant, hand, rhythm —and to discover their own authentic interpretation.

Živilė Steniukynaitė-Fornari (b. 1991) is a textile artist whose work explores the connection between the past and the future through fabric. Using natural fibers and found materials, she addresses themes of sustainability, contemporary social challenges, and personal experience. At the core of her practice is experimentation with ancient textile techniques—such as batik, block printing, embroidery, and weaving—reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.
In her work, Živilė also incorporates unconventional materials such as cellulose fibers, glass, metal, sound, and natural plant dyes, creating objects and environments where tradition meets innovation. Her interactive canvases, installations, and sculptures invite viewers to reconsider their relationship with materials and symbols.
After earning a BA in Fine Art from Coventry University (UK) in 2015, Živilė continued her artistic development in Italy and later studied batik in Indonesia—a turning point that led her to delve deeply into textile art and natural dyeing techniques.
During her studies, she was awarded the Coventry Drawing Prize, was nominated for the Jane Sutton Art Prize, and participated in several exhibitions. In 2023, she received the Young Artist Grant from the city of Alytus, which enabled her to hold her first solo exhibition, “Unbroken Connection,” at the Alytus Cultural Centre. That same year, she participated in the Andorra Biennale, a group exhibition in Lanjarón (Spain), and furthered her studies in traditional block printing techniques in India with the support of a mobility grant from the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
In 2024, she presented her exhibition “Merging” at La Fábrica (Lanjarón, Spain) and at the Artifex gallery in Vilnius. In 2025, she was awarded the Emerging Artist Grant and took part in a residency at the Ismail Sufiyan Khatri block printing studio in Ajrakhpur, Gujarat (India).

Organized by: VšĮ “Verpėjos”
Financed by: Lithuanian Council for Culture and Varėna Municipality
Opening event: August 16, 3:00 PM
Exhibition dates: August 16 – September 14, 2025
Visiting hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00–5:00 PM,
or by prior arrangement at +370 614 16255.
Address: Marcinkonys Station Gallery, Kastinio St. 1C