One of the longest running projects of the Contemporary Art Centre (CAC) in Vilnius is the Baltic Triennial. Its rich history dates back to 1979, predating the establishment of the CAC itself. Originally conceived as a triennial for young Baltic artists, it was presented at the Palace of Exhibitions in Vilnius. Following Lithuania’s regained independence in 1990 and the reorganisation of state institutions, the CAC was founded, taking over both the Palace of Exhibitions and the continuity of the Baltic Triennial. Since its 6th edition in 1995, the CAC has shaped the project into one of the most significant contemporary art events in the Baltic region.
Each edition of the Baltic Triennial is curated by different curators and presents artists from across the world. The most recent edition took place in 2024 and marked the 15th Baltic Triennial, curated by Tom Engels and Maya Tounta. The project recently reached its final chapter with the launch of the two-volume publication Remain in Zero / Same Day, extending the 15th Baltic Triennial beyond its exhibitions and events by tracing its development across 2023–2024. The publication documents ‘Prologue to the 15th Baltic Triennial: Remain in Zero’ and ‘15th Baltic Triennial: Same Day’. Its launch took place at Sapieha Palace, a branch of the CAC, and was accompanied by a curators’ readings and a piano programme performed by pianist Han-Gyeol Lie.
As the CAC adds this book – featuring photographic sequences by Saulė Gerikaitė and Adrianna Glaviano – to its growing library, the Centre now begins to write a new edition of the Baltic Triennial by announcing the curators of the 16th Baltic Triennial.
As in previous editions, the selection process was invitation-based. On this occasion, candidates and ultimately the appointed curators were selected by a seven-member international committee comprising Valentinas Klimašauskas (Chair of the Selection Committee, Director, CAC, Vilnius, Lithuania), Virginija Januškevičiūtė (currently Senior Curator, CAC, Lithuania), Edgaras Gerasimovičius (Head of Art Programme at Sapieha Palace, a branch of CAC Vilnius), Inga Lāce (Chief Curator, Almaty Museum of Arts), Maria Arusoo (Director, CCA, Tallinn, Estonia), Sebastian Cichocki (Senior Curator, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw, Poland), and Cosmin Costinas (Senior Curator of Exhibition Practices, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, HKW, Berlin).
The committee selected artist Nikita Kadan and art historian and writer Natalia Sielewicz, currently Chief Curator at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, to lead the artistic vision of the 16th Baltic Triennial. Commenting on the selection, Valentinas Klimašauskas said: ‘The curators were selected to provide space for experimentation, dialogue, and sensitivity towards the larger region. Nikita and Natalia were chosen for their ability to create a sensitive, open, and critical conversation with art, history and the public.’