The symbol of the capital Warsaw, Poland is not only the architecture, museums, culture, but also... a palm tree.
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| 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, leaves made of polyethylene compound, the tree is straight and the palm leaves flutter in the wind, looking 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 mentioned 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 centre, at the intersection of Nowy Świat (New World ) Street and Jerusalem Avenue.
Initially, the “lonely palm tree” was a curiosity but not well received. However, over the past two decades, the 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, the LGBTQ+ community, environmental activists, and other groups.
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 whether the people of Warsaw 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 tropical tree in the cold city of Warsaw shows that local people accept that 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 this artificial tree.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chiem-nguong-ve-dep-cua-su-co-don-giua-long-thu-do-warsaw-ba-lan-286078.html
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