The reed sculpture exhibition in Amber Bay, Juodkrante, represents a sophisticated contemporary reinterpretation of ancient seasonal rituals. By combining traditional craftsmanship with public art installation, this annual event demonstrates how pre-modern mythological thinking can be adapted to serve modern cultural needs while maintaining connection to historical practices and beliefs.

Situated on the Curonian Spit, a landscape imbued with centuries of folklore and natural significance, the exhibition consciously positions itself at the intersection of nature, culture, and mythology. The deliberate timing of the display during the Autumn Equinox—a period of balance between light and darkness—connects the event to universal human patterns of marking seasonal transitions, reflecting the fundamental role of cyclical time in mythological thinking across cultures.

The sculptures themselves, crafted from local materials and displayed on water, embody transformation—a central theme in mythological narratives worldwide. Rising from the water, they evoke the common mythological motif of emergence, while their illumination during the festival creates a visual metaphor for enlightenment or revelation. The use of amber in the regional context further layers the symbolism, incorporating a material that has itself been mythologised in Baltic cultures as the tears of gods or goddesses.

This exhibition exemplifies how contemporary societies continue to create ritual spaces that serve functions similar to those of traditional mythological practices—marking time, connecting communities to landscapes, and creating shared experiences that transcend ordinary reality. The merger of art, nature, and local history in this context demonstrates that mythological thinking remains a vital force in contemporary culture, adapting ancient patterns to address modern needs for meaning and connection.