The design and communication studio Ausme, in collaboration with metal artist Katrīna Vītola, has debuted its first collection of interior objects — The Parade of Winter Guardians. The collection, created in the spirit of the winter solstice, was inspired by Latvian masking traditions and reveals Ausme’s interest in the synthesis of the ancient and the modern in communication design.
The Parade of Winter Guardians consists of six interior objects — miniature sculptures — and a kinetic mobile that symbolically reflects the myths of the creation of the world. The images in the collection are inspired by Latvian masking traditions and processes in nature, depicting various figures and symbols significant in Latvian folklore — the Wolf and the Goat, the Moonbeam, the Circle of Time, the Golden Trout, and the Giant carrying the Sun on his shoulders.
Dārta Apsīte, the author of the idea and creative director of Ausme, says that the concept of the collection is rooted in reflections on the place that people hold in the cycle of nature. One of the ways in which our ancestors honoured the passage of time was through solstice celebrations. In winter, this was the tradition of masking — one of the oldest customs in the northern hemisphere. «By putting on a mask, we transform ourselves and can communicate with another world. Masks have a protective and regenerative function that allows us to overcome the dark moments in life. In an age when we are in a hurry and cannot find time to ground ourselves, these images are created as a continuation of our ancestors’ memories, which hold knowledge, songs, and fairy tales. They are signs of protection and recognition,» Dārta explains.
Metal artist Katrīna Vītola is the artisan behind The Parade of Winter Guardians. «For me, this collection is about connection. Connection with those who came before us, with each other, with ourselves, and with the great flow of nature. Its guiding motif is light and the ability to bring light into darkness. The pieces in the collection are a reminder that we ourselves are the messengers of light, the winter guardians. When it seems that the whole world has fallen into a winter slumber, we are the ones who keep moving,» says Katrīna.
The objects of The Parade of Winter Guardians are handmade from brass and nickel silver. The sculptures can be purchased separately, and there is also a special stand available for displaying them. The collection also includes a set that combines all of the Winter Guardians into a kinetic sculpture. The collection is available at the Ausme online store.
Ausme is an award–winning design and communication studio that explores the space between the ancient and the contemporary, creating visual identities and creative concepts deeply rooted in culture. The studio is known for its ability to blend the cultural codes — folk songs, folklore, and mythology — with a contemporary, aesthetically sensitive design approach.
Katrīna Vītola is a graduate of the Metal Design programme at the Art Academy of Latvia. Her creative work is shaped by a sensitive interest in society, empathy, and the healing power of art. Katrīna’s thesis project, Guardians, which was developed in collaboration with the residents of the SOS Children’s Village in Īslīce, was a collection of protective amulets inspired by characters created by the children.
Viedokļi