Jolita Vaitkutė is a well-known artist in Lithuania and beyond, famous for her unique sustainable projects. Her creative style is easily recognisable – the artist creates from a wide variety of objects and materials found in nature. “We can’t even imagine how many materials suitable for creativity are around us,” says Jolita, whose works are often short-lived – they are eaten or recycled. This is part of her creative philosophy.

At the global exhibition EXPO 2025 (Osaka, Japan), Jolita, as the ambassador of Vilnius, the European Green Capital of 2025 – opened an exhibition at the Baltic States stand, where Lithuania presents itself together with Latvia. Through her works, she invited visitors to the pavilion to talk about the city of the future and to feel the parallels between Vilnius and Osaka – two cities where nature is important even in the context of modern urbanism. Jolita also held workshops during which exhibition participants could make their own portraits from tree leaves.

Nature is the heart of the city of the future

According to J. Vaitkutė, we often imagine that there will be no greenery left in the cities of the future – they will be covered with asphalt, concrete and skyscrapers. However, the artist is convinced that real progress occurs when the city and nature become one. “It is important to maintain a connection with nature in the cities of the future,” she says, emphasising the need to talk about it, since living close to nature has a positive effect on the city dwellers.

“I live in the city centre, but every day on my way to the studio I walk through green areas. In Vilnius, it is normal and natural for me to see birds, grass and falling leaves. Even if we don’t feel it consciously, being in nature affects our well-being, emotions and thinking,” says the artist. “After all, what a huge difference it makes to see a multi-storey building or a tree that looks different every morning through the window.”

Creating from what is nearby

In Osaka, J, Vaitkutė will exhibit works created from materials found in nature. Thus, she seeks to show that nature provides the right tools for creativity and embodies sustainability. She says that she is already accustomed to collecting leaves, twigs and plants in Vilnius: “I am a constant seeker, especially in autumn, when nature offers a complete palette of colours for creativity. I know the trees in Vilnius – I know what they look like before and after the frost. Nature is my creative material.”

One of the most important aspects of the work of Jolita is sustainability. She uses existing objects and materials that can be recycled. Vilnius, which has become the European Green Capital this year, chose a bee made from waste found in the city as one of its symbols. At the end of the year, this bee will be recycled and “return” to the city in a new form. “This is my way of talking about the circular economy and sustainability,” says the artist.

“The creation by Jolita resonates beautifully with the year “Vilnius – European Green Capital 2025”. It is important for us to show that the harmonious relationship between the city and nature can be reflected not only in decisions or infrastructure, but also in art, creativity and everyday choices,” says Jurga Pociūtė-Mikūtienė, the head of the project “Vilnius – European Green Capital 2025”.

Parallels between Vilnius and Osaka

“Vilnius and Osaka differ in size and population, but both cities are characterised by a close connection with nature and the habit of city dwellers to spend time in green spaces. I invite visitors to the exhibition to consider and answer the question: what should the city of the future be like?” says Jolita. The city is not bad in itself, but it can be even better, more friendly to people, giving them the opportunity to experience nature in the city. “I want to emphasise that nature is one of the most important parts of the city of the future. The residents of both Osaka and Vilnius share the same values, i.e. love for nature and a respectful relationship with the environment.”

According to the artist, we Lithuanians are used to living surrounded by nature, sometimes without even appreciating it. Jolita tells that we express our love for nature through new traditions, some of which we have taken over from the Japanese: “We enjoy forest bathing. Perhaps some of these values are innate to the Japanese, while we are still learning them.”