PUBLIC SCULPTURES
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Fine Art | Public Art | Community relations | Curation | Production | Photography
BACKYARD FORMATION: SOMETHING BETWEEN A SCULPTURE AND A PIECE OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
The concept of a backyard formation, a kind of a public sculpture, was inspired by old playground equipment. Using the concept of play as a framework, we were investigating urban features and observing how people interact with different elements of the cityscape. We realized that a good old carpet hanger is an ideal, playful “backyard formation”. It can be perceived as a geometric, simplified sculpture that can function as an urban plaything or a part of callisthenic gym equipment.
During the 2020 Biennale of Urban Art and Design we set out to construct two of these backyard formations. In order to do that, we commissioned a local writer, Salcia Hałas, to write a short story about the residential district for which the sculptures would have been created. It served as an alternative “brief” for invited artists in the early stages of the Biennale planning process, prompting the artists to immerse themselves in the district’s atmosphere. Before writing the piece Salcia had been meeting with local residents — working in an off-licence shop and a city garden. She compiled “The Fog” from gathered stories about spirits of Wzgórze’s residents — people, as well as animals.
Despite the goal being a three-dimensional object design, we decided on inviting 2D illustrators to join our collaborative efforts. Their ideas and sketches were to be translated into spatial form, while maintaining the stylistic of the original design. Two designs selected in a closed competition made it to execution.
A FOLK STORY TURNED INTO A SCULPTURE
The first installation, Stolemka, is a metal sculpture inspired by Kashubian lore, depicting an enormous woman from a tribe of giants allegedly dwelling in Kashubia in the distant past. It is said that the Stolem tribe was responsible for the lay of the land in the region. The shape of Stolemka was translated into a metalwork sculpture using Stach Szumski’s original drawing. The openwork form of the sculpture allows it to blend into the environment which fills its contours.
THE FOG COMBER — WHAT DOES IT DO?
Not much, to be honest, just standing there, letting the air flow through it. The peculiar title of this piece, as well as its form, was directly inspired by Salcia Hałas’s short story — “The Fog”.
In this nonwindiness a white fog has crawled out from the sea and onto the boulevard. It wrapped itself around a lantern, swallowed a few runners and a lonely dog. Rolled about, forming swirls, frayed a bit and diluted, only to become dense anew and hoover mid-air.
Made out of steel tubes and painted white, this dynamic sculpture was put in a spot in which a pocket park is being built. Hopefully, in the renovated, green environment it will become the district’s well-recognised landmark.
The Fog Comber was designed by Łukasz Cekas Berger.
