The History of Lithuanian Participation in Expo Expositions

Independent Lithuania entered the arena of international expositions for the first time in 1937. The name of the country, however, sounded in Paris far back in 1900. At that time Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire, but the Lithuanian elite and emigration decided to show to the world that Lithuania, despite long slavery, is not an extinct state.

The world had to learn that Russia banned the press in Roman alphabet in Lithuania from 1864, and that any form of resistance was heavily punished. There were hopes that negative global reaction would force Russia to refrain form such assimilative policy.

It was decided to exhibit many banned Lithuanian publications (especially the ones that were printed illegally and smuggled to Lithuania).

The main exposition included a village cottage with a matchmaking scene. The walls of the pavilion were covered with photos of Lithuanian rulers, the Lithuanian arm Vytis, and many maps with highlighted routes by which Lithuanian newspapers used to reach Lithuania.

Although the aim of the Expo exhibitions is to encourage cooperation between countries avoiding political issues, the restoration of an independent state was behind Lithuania's participation in the exposition.

The exposition had no influence on political decisions of states, but it was useful for Lithuania in a cultural sense. Knowledge of the exposition and Lithuania's participation in it spread in Lithuania, and the hope of regaining freedom was revived. Many sources of that time wrote that "the dreams are over, the actions begin".

After the restoration of the Lithuanian state in 1918, Lithuania started participating in the Expo exposition in 1937. Lithuania brought to the exposition works by outstanding Lithuanian artists that were met by Paris with admiration. 44 Lithuanian artists were awarded golden, silver and bronze prizes and diplomas of honour – 58 awards in total. Therefore, the first participation of Lithuania in the Expo exposition was not mere luck – it was a victory.

Lithuania's participation in Paris in 1937 was very successful, therefore, in the exposition that took place in two years time in New York American-Lithuanian Magdalena Avietenaite, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and chairwoman of the organizational committee of the previous exposition, was appointed Commissioner General of the Lithuanian pavilion. At that time she was the highest position holding female in the country.

By participating in the New York exposition Lithuania had several goals. First, it wanted to introduce other nations to a small country with impressive history, deep-rooted traditions, but at the same with a striving for modernization.

Lithuanian politicians used the occasion to thank the United States that became home to almost one million of Lithuanian migrants. To retain links with American- Lithuanians was also an equally important goal. Part of people that lived in America and called themselves Lithuanians had never been to the country their parents and grandparents were born. Therefore, bringing part o Lithuania to America was a symbolic chance for those people to feel themselves real Lithuanians.

Lithuania would have not participated in the exposition without the help of American-Lithuanians. Living over the Atlantic Ocean they always took care of the Lithuania's future and wanted the United States to be the first foreign state to recognize Lithuania's independence. During the New York exposition Lithuanians wanted the USA "to see what a small nation, that is one of the oldest nations in the world and that was subjugated for several hundred years, can do in several years of independence".

Lithuania was presented to the world as a peaceful country propagating sexual equality, mutual understanding of religions and nations, having long history, magnificent nature, a Sanskrit-like language and too active and substantially aggressive neighbors.

In 1939 during the New York exposition the World War II caught the world. The exposition lasted till the 1st of October, but Germany started the war on the 1st of September in Poland, neighboring Lithuania. On the 17th of September partial mobilization was declared in Lithuania and at the end of the month the Soviet Union "proposed" Lithuania to sign a treaty on mutual assistance. Step by step Lithuania started vanishing from the map of sovereign states. The Lithuanian exhibits left in New York were the only undeniable proof of its existence.

American-Lithuanians felt sorry for the Lithuanian exhibits that were left without care in some barn. On their initiative, the exhibits were given to the Archive of American Lithuanian Culture. Now it is situated in Putnam, Connecticut. Many exhibits are still there.

After the Restoration of Independence in 1990 Lithuania eagerly accepted an invitation to participate in the international exposition that took place in April-November of 1992 in the Spanish city of Seville. Spain recognized Lithuania's independence on the 27th of August 1991, and later on invited the three Baltic States to take part in the exposition. Lithuania and Estonia accepted the invitation and brought two expositions to one pavilion.

There were no time for preparations for the exposition; therefore, it was decided to exhibit already recognized valuables – the amber collection and wooden sculptures of Jesus.

Visitors could also take a look at ancient Lithuanian maps and watch a film about Lithuania – its national costumes, the Song festival. According to Kornelijus Platelis, Commissioner General of the Lithuanian pavilion, during the exposition Spaniards gave a lot of attention to the map of modern Lithuania where a clear line between Vilnius and Seville was drawn.

People who worked in the pavilion faced some passport problems: Lithuania recently started issuing new passports and neither border guards nor Spanish officials wanted to recognize them. Due to that reason Lithuanians who worked in the pavilion were not issued permanents permits. They had to come every morning and get new permits to enter the territory of the exposition.

Nevertheless, the first Lithuania's participation in an international exposition after 53 years was quite successful. Commissioner General said that 8,000-10,000 people visited the Lithuanian pavilion daily.

According to Platelis, although it was very hard for Lithuania to prepare for the exposition without a clear source of funds, without experience and facing technical problems, during that time the country felt huge Spanish support. "The Spaniards paid for the utility services and offered to pay for cleaning services when they heard we were going to do the work ourselves", Commissioner General said.

The Lithuanian and Estonian pavilion looked very modestly, but it received plenty of attention. It was visited by queen of Spain Sofia; many delegations showed exceptional attention due to the chance to meet the then chairman of The Supreme Council of the Lithuanian Vytautas Landsbergis.

Less then a year after the first Lithuanian attempt to introduce itself to the world in Spain, Lithuanian representatives told about independent Lithuania to Korean representatives. This exhibition took place from the 7th of August till the 7th of November 1993.

There were almost no time for preparations, and the situation was even worsened by the fact that at that time a system of temporary money – talonai – existed in Lithuania. It took a long time to decide whether it was necessary for Lithuania to participate in the exposition, how the country was going to secure funding. It was decided that the main goal of the Lithuanian participation - to introduce itself to the world for it to know that Lithuania was no longer a soviet state – was worth the effort.

One pavilion of 324 square meters was given to the three Baltic States.

It was decided that Lithuania's pride was the clean corner - the Curonian Spit. Therefore, the Curonian sand was brought and dunes were formed at the Korean exposition. Among the dunes Lithuanian black ceramics items and wooden sculptures were displayed. Amber and bone porcelain ware draw attention in glass-cases. The Curonian and, on a larger scale, Lithuanian smithery was represented by carved pagan suns.

Things that Lithuania was proud of were brought to Korea. For this reason not only the Lithuanian folk art, but also drills – one of the Lithuanian export goods of that time – were introduced to the world in Korea.

The theme of the exposition that took place in Portugal was "Oceans for Future Generations"; therefore, Lithuania wanted to introduce itself as a marine state. As in previous expositions, Lithuania did not want to forget its past: one of the main exhibits of the Lithuanian exposition was a flat-bottomed sail boat brought from the Curonian Spit.

According to the architects' plan, the 150-year-old boat was put on blue light-shedding glass panels that symbolized the sea. Natural dune sand was also brought form Neringa. It was mounded to form dunes; beside real Lithuanian Gypsophilas "grew". The visitor could also have a look at ancient housewares, ware, linen clothes and drapery, amber sculptures and weathercocks.

A lot of attention was drawn not only to the boat, but also to a giant aquarium with congers – one of the typical fish of the Lithuanian sea and inland waters. They were also brought from Lithuania. After the Portuguese exposition the fish were set free.

At the entrance to the pavilion the visitors could see a European map of languages, including the Lithuanian language, made on a panel form different types of wood.

This show was different not only because of the Lithuanian exposition, but also for the fact that Lithuania had a separate pavilion form Latvia and Estonia.

In 2000 in Hanover, Germany, it was decided to introduce Lithuania in a modern way. Lithuania had to spread information about itself in every possible way, starting with a bright yellow pavilion. The decision gave positive results: the covers of commercial publications for the Expo included the yellow Lithuanian pavilion.

The main accent of the exposition was the film "Flight over Lithuania". It topped the list of top-three movies showed during the exposition. The film was shown in a small cozy room with additional effects, including moving chairs and the murmur of the wind.

The other part of the exhibition included displays full of objects – symbols-codes. Every object had to transfer information on the Lithuanian history, its people, their lifestyle.


Gediminas Miskinis, Commissioner General of the Lithuanian pavilion, confirmed that it was a very successful decision to present information about Lithuania in special terminals. The visitors actively bought amber souvenirs; they also liked dark Lithuanian beer very much. The beer company was able to enter the German market after the exposition.

The participation in this exposition cost 20 million Litas. It was the biggest sum of money Lithuania spent through the history of participation in Expo expositions. Of course, one should not forget the Russian economic crisis of 1998-1999 that hit Lithuania as well. Therefore, the value of millions spent for the exposition would have been different.

During the exposition that took place in Japan in 2005 visitors of the Lithuanian pavilion saw an artistic project 2 DNR (2 DNA).

In the displays that were hanged on the structure symbolizing two DNA spirals visitors could see Lithuanian cultural and natural scenes "running" from one display to another. The last several displays showed a Japanese dubbed interview of Fumito Tomoi, a Japanese living in Lithuanian, and a Lithuanian showman Algis Ramauansksas.

Many people enjoyed "talking" about Lithuania's history, economy, sports, modern art, politics, tourism and many other issues with a robot produces by the Lithuanian company Megalogika. The talk was possible in the vocal and written form as the robot managed to accumulate information and analyze it.

Children were fascinated by an animated game about Lithuania. They had to manage to take a photo of a stork flying over Lithuania. If they were successful, a picture of an area where the stork was flying appeared.

The Japanese loved the Lithuanian beer and snacks. It was very quiet in the Lithuanian pavilion, so some visitors even had a nap on four bright-colors made of polyurethane and symbolizing fire, water, air and earth.

Older Japanese visitors new about Lithuania because during the World War II Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese humanist, worked there. A stamp with his photo was sold out during the first day of the exposition.

On the Earth Day in Japanese city of Jaotsu, where Sugihara was born, an oak-wood was planted. The oaks were brought to Japan by Romas Jankauskas, Commissioner General of the Lithuanian pavilion.

In the „Expo Zaragoza 2008“, in Spain, Lithuanian pavilion called „The Home of Rain“ (Casa de la lluvia) achieved great public attention: during 93 days it had about 820 thousand visitors – a one third more than expected. (The author is Saulius Valius, the director of  „Ekspobalta“).

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, minister of Environment Artūras Paulauskas, well known politicians, businessmen, experts, journalists visited Lithuanian pavilion. Poland showed the greatest attention for Lithuania: by attending in Poland’s national day events in Expo, The president of Poland Lech Kaczynski visited „The Home of Rain“.

Visitors of Lithuanian pavilion managed to get know famous artist Marius Jovaiša and his album of photography „Unseen Lithuania“, Lithuanian films, participated in cultural events, held by Vilnius – European capital of culture 2009“, watched Olympic games and took photos of Lithuanian basketball trophies. And, of course, tasted Lithuanian beer.

Seven wells of information were made to present Lithuania and few hundred of thousands booklets were given to visitors of „The Home of Rain“.