Baltic Island exhibition alone attracted more than 5,700 visitors.
Baltic Island was the first major showcase in Japan dedicated jointly to Baltic illustration and animation. Held at Spiral Garden and WPÜ Shinjuku in Tokyo from June 1 to 14, 2026, the project brought together contemporary visual storytelling from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Featuring more than 150 works by 34 illustrators and more than 50 animated films, Baltic Island introduced Japanese audiences to a diverse creative landscape shaped by cultural memory, metaphor, humour, mythology, craftsmanship and artistic experimentation.
Media
Baltic Island received more than 150 public visibility mentions across media and digital platforms. The project was featured by leading Japanese and international art and culture media, including Tokyo Art Beat, Time Out Tokyo, Bijutsu Techo, Yahoo! Japan, ARTnews Japan, TRANSIT and Metropolis.
Its bilingual website, communication in English and Japanese, and social media presence extended the project beyond the physical venues. Audience and partner activity across Instagram, Facebook and X generated more than 1,000 reactions.
Exhibition
The exhibition at Spiral Garden presented more than 150 works by 34 illustrators from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Combining established masters with contemporary voices, it revealed the breadth of Baltic illustration across different generations, techniques and visual languages.
Over its 14-day run, the exhibition welcomed more than 5,700 visitors, creating a vivid encounter between Baltic imagination and Japanese audiences.
Animation
At WPÜ Shinjuku, 57 animated films were presented through 7 specially curated programmes. The selection explored Baltic animation through folklore, cultural memory, humour, craft, experimentation and strong individual authorship.
Art and Diplomacy
Baltic Island functioned as a cultural-diplomacy platform connecting Baltic artists, curators, cultural institutions and Japanese audiences.
The opening evening brought together representatives of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian embassies in Japan, alongside the curators, project partners and guests. Two public panel discussions further explored the international potential of Baltic animation and the interpretation of Baltic illustration within the Japanese cultural context.
Catalogue
The exhibition was accompanied by a 160-page Baltic Island illustration catalogue, published in a limited edition of 300 copies.
Presenting works by artists from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the publication extended the life of the exhibition beyond its Tokyo presentation and created a lasting record of contemporary Baltic illustration.
Art Auction for Ukraine
As part of its public programme, Baltic Island organised a live art auction in support of Ukraine and people affected by the war.
The auction brought together Baltic artists, visitors and supporters, raising a total of 365,000 JPY and transforming artistic exchange into a gesture of solidarity.
All proceeds donated to NPO Stand With Ukraine Japan, NPO Ukraine House Japan and NPO Kraiany.
