Artificial palm in Warsaw

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The palm tree in April 2019

The artificial palm tree in Warsaw is located in the middle of the Warsaw roundabout Rondo Charles'a de Gaulle'a . It is a replica of a date palm that was erected on December 12, 2002 on the initiative of the Polish artist Joanna Rajkowska (* 1968). It is now considered a symbol of the city.

history

The palm tree, visible from afar, was erected at one of Warsaw's most important transport hubs; this is where the Warsaw Royal Route and the Aleje Jerozolimskie cross . It was originally planned as part of a larger, but only short-term project - inspired by a trip to Israel by the artist and video director Artur Żmijewski - in 2001. In Warsaw, a piece of Jerusalem was to be built on Jerusalem-Allee , thus commemorating Warsaw's important Jewish past. The plan was to erect two rows of artificial palm trees along the main traffic artery in order to transfer the landscape of Jerusalem to Warsaw. Financing problems and difficulties in discussions with authorities reduced the project to the palm tree on the traffic island.

The palm tree, which is 15 meters high, made of plastics and natural materials, was supplied by a US company. It stands on a base made of prefabricated concrete parts. The construction costs were borne by the artist. The work of art was the subject of heated discussions for years. In a survey in October 2003, 75% of Warsaw residents agreed to keep the property. Originally the palm should be dismantled after a year; however, it still stands and has become a popular meeting place. Leaves and tree bark were replaced with new, more durable elements in early 2007.

As part of the protest movement Chleba zamiast igrzysk 'Bread Instead of Games', the artist removed part of the palm leaves together with activists during the European Football Championship 2012 in Warsaw. Rajkowska wanted to protest against the city government using their work as an advertising measure for the football championship. The palm is still the property of the author, but she has declared her willingness to transfer it to the city administration.

literature

  • Discover Małgorzata Danecka, Thorsten Hoppe, Warsaw. Tours through the Polish capital , Trescher, Berlin 2008, ISBN 978-3-89794-116-8 , p. 164.
  • Grzegorz Piątek, Jarosław Trybuś, Warsaw. The thematic guide through Poland's capital , Kamil Markiewicz (translator), Schröder, Verlag für Regionalkultur, Diepholz 2009, ISBN 978-3-89728-070-0 , p. 174

Web links

Commons : Artificial palm in Warsaw  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. a b according to Gabriele Lesser, Warsaw's artistic landmark. The palm tree on Königsweg in the taz from June 28, 2012 (accessed on March 22, 2013)
  2. according to Agnieszka Hreczuk, Warschauer Wohlleben in the Berliner Zeitung from August 20, 2009 (accessed March 5, 2013)
  3. a b according to Piotr Sarzyński, Rajkowska Joanna. Sztuka oddychania in Polityka .pl from August 8, 2007 (in Polish, accessed March 22, 2013)
  4. according to Kerry Kubilius, Palm Tree in Warsaw at About.com (accessed March 22, 2013)
  5. according to Annette Dittert, Palms in Warsaw. Stories from a New Poland , ISBN 3-453-60020-7 , Heyne, Munich 2006, pp. 11-16
  6. according to Article Warsaw's iconic palm loses leaves in Euro protest at Reuters on June 22, 2012 (in English, accessed on March 22, 2013)

Coordinates: 52 ° 13 ′ 54.4 ″  N , 21 ° 1 ′ 15 ″  E