photographic essay – only 600 copies – in Lithuanian/English
Nostalgia Island is a return to soviet suburbs whose environment shaped the 1990s generation of post-soviet countries. This photographic essay offers a new look at soviet micro-neighborhoods—not as a place to run from or forget, but as a space of manifold history that still shapes the identity of post-soviet states today.
Travelling through the contemporary spaces of these sleeping districts, the photographer’s gaze imbues them with emotion—here, color becomes a reflection of the moods found in Kaupinis’ essay. Together, image and text contemplate the ambivalent relationship with one’s place of origin: the desire to escape, and the gradual path toward reconciliation with one’s own identity.
Nostalgia Island offers an alternative perspective on urban micro-neighborhoods—not as places one must flee or forget, but as spaces of layered history that have shaped, and continue to shape, who we are.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Imantas Selenis is a prominent Lithuanian photographer known internationally. His works have been exhibited in multiple personal and group exhibitions in Lithuania, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as published in various art publications. See more about the author.
PARTNERS
The publication is partially funded by
Lithuanian Council for Culture
Vilnius City Municipality
Project co-creator
Creative real estate development company reefo
Partners
TAAD Foundation
DO Architects
Gallery
The Rooster Gallery
BOOK CREDITS
Texts by: Imantas Selenis, Karolis Kaupinis
Translation into English: Alexandra Bondarev
Editor: Paulius Garbačiauskas
Proofreaders: Ugnė Misevičiūtė, Paulius Garbačiauskas
Designer: Aurelija Slapšytė
Image retouching: aust.studio
Publishing house editor: Ūla Ambrasaitė
Printed by: Druckhaus Sportflieger
ISBN 978-609-496-023-9
128 pages, 225 × 280 mm, hardcover, colour illustrations
Published by LAPAS, November 2025
