23 February 2026

International illustrators’ exhibition “The Magical Forest”

On February 23, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania will open its doors to the international illustrators’ exhibition “Magical Forest”.The exhibition is organized by the National Library’s Children’s and Youths Literature Centre in collaboration with the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre and the Estonian Graphic Designers Association.

We invite you to visit the mysterious and multifaceted space of the forest, where security and danger, light and darkness, everyday human experiences and myths have intertwined since ancient times. In each creator’s work, the forest reveals itself as a unique dreamlike space and a miracle. The exhibition features 48 illustrators from 15 countries – inspired by the forest as a miracle and a refuge, the creators reveal its magical secrets: you will discover mischievous spirits and merciful elders, as well as animals that can both harm and help humans.

According to the exhibition’s curator, one of Estonia’s most famous illustrators, Viive Noor, “Forest spirits’ justice for the fair and punishments for the liars could really come in handy today. We’ve witnessed far too much negligence and impunity with regard to woodlands. In modern times, it isn’t humans who need protection from the forest, but the forest that needs protection from human greed and avarice”.

The exhibition will also feature a plant installation by the design studio “Samanoja” entitled “Forest Edges as Margins”. According to the studio’s director, Aušrinė Benediktavičiūtė, “Two worlds meet at the forest edge—the tranquillity of the forest and the stories brought here by people, sinking into the moss that hides everything. By drawing attention to the unexpected, refined forms of the forest, we begin to notice them in nature as well. The more we notice, the more we want to explore. The more we explore, the more we want to protect it.”

Visitors to the exhibition will be accompanied by the soundscape “Forest Marsh” – “Forest of Sounds” recorded by nature soundscape researcher Linas Staliūnas.

During the exhibition, the Children’s and Youth Literature Centre will host an exhibition of books about forests and nature.

Schoolchildren will be invited to register for the exhibition’s accompanying workshop “From Tree to Magical Book”.

Visitors will be able to visit the exhibition in the National Library’s Knowledge Space-Laimė Lukošiūnienė Hall (5th floor, room 535) and in the Children's and Youths Literature Centre spaces (1st floor) from February 23 to April 6.

Organizer:
National Library Children’s and Youth Literature Centre

Partners:
Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Estonian Graphic Designers Association