Adelė Gančierė

Bongard, Isabelle

Linocut printmaker

1©Adele Ganciere

Woodcuts and linocuts

Adelė has been cutting wood since the age of 16
Several generations of her family have dedicated themselves to folk art
Lithuanian folk art gives her peace of mind

Adelė Gančierė has been surrounded by folk art since childhood: her mother is a famous paper-cutting artist, and many of her family members were involved in folk art. It was therefore a natural choice to pursue that folk art as a career. Adelė could talk for hours about woodcuts, linocuts, and their history. Having immersed herself in this art form as a teenager, she not only wrote her final thesis at university about woodcuts but also published a book. Her woodcuts and linocuts now travel to the farthest corners of the world and she regularly organises exhibitions and workshops, proving by example that folk art can find a place in modern everyday life. Her cuttings are inspired by Lithuanian folk songs and fairy tales, combining traditional forms with contemporary presentations.

Interview

1©Adele Ganciere

1©Adele Ganciere

What inspires you to create?: Everyday life - I don't mean routine, I mean the world around me changing every day - when you think about it, every single thing around you is constantly changing, whether it's the person next to you or a flower. These simple, but for me, special things are what inspire me to create.
Is your craft in decline?: Linocuts and woodcuts are definitely not the most common type of craft, but I am happy that it is slowly gaining popularity and becoming a close artistic expression for more and more people.
What fascinates you most about your craft?: The ability to express both joy and sadness through black and white, lines and stains. It may seem like the most primitive thing, but perhaps, in this case, the saying that genius lies in simplicity is true.
What qualities do you need to become a woodcutter?: I wouldn't name any particular qualities. It's more an understanding that it's a relatively slow art form, which can take up to a month to make a piece. But every part of the process is interesting and engaging.

Adelė Gančierė is a master artisan: she began her career in 2012 and she started teaching in 2015