Admire the beauty of loneliness in the heart of Warsaw, Poland

The symbol of the capital city of Warsaw, Poland is not only the architecture, museums, culture, but also... a palm tree.

Artificial palm trees in the center of Warsaw, Poland. (Source: City of Warsaw)

The “Lonely Palm Tree” is both strange and familiar, inviting visitors to stop and take pictures. This is an artificial tree, a 15-meter high art installation by visual artist Joanna Rajkowska, inaugurated to decorate the center of Warsaw since December 12, 2002. With a steel column trunk covered with natural bark, polyethylene leaves, the tree’s straight shape and palm leaves fluttering in the wind look like a real tree.

The idea of ​​installing a palm tree in Warsaw came after Joanna Rajkows visited Israel, to commemorate the Jewish community that lived there before the Holocaust. Their presence is also remembered by the name of the street where the palm tree is located, Aleje Jerozolimskie (Jerusalem Avenue).

First-time visitors to the Polish capital, taking the tram up and down at Warsaw Central Station, may be surprised to see a lone palm tree standing at the busy De Gaulle roundabout in the center, at the intersection of Nowy Świat (New World ) Street and Jerusalem Avenue.

Initially, the “lonely palm tree” was born to attract curiosity but was not warmly received. However, over the past two decades, this tree has “grown” in the hearts and minds of Warsaw residents and has become a symbol of the capital and a unique attraction.

The tree is a popular meeting place for political and social activists, including women, nurses, LGBTQ+, environmental activists and others.

The work carries two main messages: first, to encourage people to reflect on global warming and the cultural changes that come with it. Second, to provide a social experiment to see if Warsaw residents would be willing to accept such a structural oddity in their city. In a recent survey, 75% of respondents expressed their interest and support for the presence of the palm tree in the heart of the Polish capital.

Accordingly, the artificial palm tree in the heart of the capital shows a surprising breakthrough value in imagination and community solidarity. The appearance of a typical tree of hot, tropical regions in the cold city of Warsaw shows that local people accept different views have the right to exist, especially when it comes to public space.

Many first-time visitors to Warsaw do not expect to see palm trees in a place that does not have a tropical, hot and humid climate. However, the “lonely palm tree” is still present, standing tall and bare in the heart of the city. Moreover, the tree is placed at the central roundabout, solemnly as a typical work of art and a symbol of cultural exchange.

To this day, the palm tree is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, even becoming a recognizable symbol of Warsaw. Anyone visiting the Polish capital wants to take beautiful photos with the “lonely palm tree” in the heart of the beautiful city of Warsaw.

It is understood that the Warsaw Museum of Modern Art is about to undertake a major refurbishment of its artificial tree.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chiem-nguong-ve-dep-cua-su-co-don-giua-long-thu-do-warsaw-ba-lan-286078.html