Detail of MEADOWS. Photo by Ineta Armanaviit. All images courtesy of Severija Inirauskait, shared with permissionFlowers and Butterflies Stitch Messages of Hope into Crumpled Metal and Corroded BarrelsJanuary 24, 2025ArtSocial IssuesKate MothesOn the sides of rusted barrels or crushed steel spheres, Lithuanian artist Severija Inirauskait-Kriauneviien(previously) applies delicate reminders of resilience. Using cotton thread, the artist cross-stitches vibrant flowers and butterflies onto facets of corroded metal, merging materials that appear to have little in common.Where metal is rough, strong, and utilitarian, embroidery is tender, soft, and decorative. Inirauskait-Kriauneviien taps into these diametric characteristics in her continuing examination of war. A large metal ball titled OFFSIDE, for example, represents the worlds cumulative conflicts. It is like a huge disaster with a small embroidered butterfly that is like a small, fragile sign of hope, she says.Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) (2023), metal and cotton thread. Photo by Modestas Eerskis and Ineta ArmanaviitThe small nation of Belarus separates Lithuania from Ukraine, where the impacts of the ongoing Russian assault reverberate across the region. The war is very close to us, the artist tells Colossal, so we cant relax and just think about life. Incorporating insects and blooms, steeped in symbolic references to compassion, generosity, and care, Inirauskait-Kriauneviien suggests that despite humans destructive actions, hope perseveres.Find more on the artists Instagram.Offside (2024), metal, and cotton threads. Photo by Enrika SamulionytDetail of Offside. Photo by Enrika SamulionytOFFSIDE (2024)MEADOWS (2023), metal barrels and cotton, 360 x 40 x 20 centimeters. Photo by Ineta ArmanaviitDetail of MEADOWS. Photo by Ineta ArmanaviitTimeless Fragility (2022), oil barrel lid and cross stitch, 60 centimeters diameter. Photo by Ineta ArmanaviitNext article