Dubai: A flock of metal birds perch on the tree-like structure of the Poland Pavilion – a symbol of natural mobility and Poland’s place as the key breeding ground for European migratory birds. Drawing from the theme of ‘Creativity Inspired by Nature’, avifauna isn’t the only glimpse into Polish biosphere; the exhibition also shares landscapes and water bodies unique to the geography of the Central European country.
Five Polish artists inspired by nature
In five chapters, the pavilion will narrate the movement of people, ideas, culture and technology as seen and understood by Poland. Visitors will find their experience beginning while still in queue, welcomed by the opening sequence titled ‘Poland. Inspired by Nature’.
Here, artistic creativity will be given precedence; the exhibition will showcase characteristic regions of Poland through the works of illustrators, graphic designers, typographers and poets that visitors can see through vision goggles.
The five zones consisting of coast, lakes and rivers, forest and wetlands, meadows and mountains will reflect various flora in these regions interspersed with art.
Forests and Wetlands
Krzysztof Domaradzki, a Poznan-based illustrator, artist and graphic designer takes inspiration from lines penned by Polish poet Wincenty Pol on the mystery of forests.
A lofty ancient tree dominates the heart of his composition, surrounded by animals sworn to keep its secrets. Using art mediums distinctive to his style, Domaradzki will create the illustration in pen, pencil and digital painting.
Coasts
Tomasz Opasinski, a graphic designer in advertisement and publishing, reminisces about his time spent on Poland’s Baltic coast, with its turbulent waters overlooking a calm sky. Along with the colour of the beach sand, Opasinski integrates amber, turquoise and various warm tones into the palette of his ‘Coast’ piece.
Lakes and rivers
Joanna Rusinek, Krakow-based illustrator and book cover designer, draws inspiration from her trips to the Narew National Park, the Biebrza River and the hilly region of Roztocze.
The artist features her illustration with the appearances of her favourite birds: mallards or wild ducks, the water birds coots, the migratory reed warblers and the long-necked cranes. Rusinek’s creative process begins with sketches and watercolour drawings, followed by conversion into digital art.
Meadows
Award-winning graphic designer Beata Śliwińska is known for her surreal collages featuring in event and movie posters, album and magazine covers, the artwork even gracing media streaming platforms Netflix and Spotify. Her flair for mixing and matching various textures and cropped images will birth a unique flower for the 'Meadow' piece at the Poland Pavilion.
This Polish flower in bloom has petals of not one particular species but of those that are typically found in meadows - cornflowers, buttercups, daisies and poppies. Flitting about the enlarged flora are small birds and butterflies who see colours differently than we do; Śliwińska manipulates half of the collage in negative tones to draw the visual distinction.
Mountains
Marta Ludwiszewska, also known as Martiszu, will bring the Polish mountains to Dubai with her illustration. In her poster, she hopes to shift and realign humanity's self-serving perspective of Nature and its sheer size. The lofty mountains are coloured in tranquil blues and warm tones. Martiszu began with a pencil sketch, which was then outlined with fineliner pens and finally converted into digital art.
- The writer is an intern with Gulf News.
