Formally known as ‘Greetings from Jerozolimskie Avenue’, the artificial tree was designed by artist Joanna Rajkowska and made its debut in December 2002. Located at the center of the Rondo Charles de Gaulle’a roundabout ever since, the installation has become an unmistakable symbol of the city.
However, recent times have seen the palm’s ageing appearance scrutinized; moreover, with the roundabout set to be erased as part of ambitious plans to narrow and beautify Jerozolimskie Avenue, rumors had swirled that the palm would be moved to a new location.
Now, following a session of Warsaw’s city council, its future has been safeguarded after 250,000 zloty (€58,400) were allocated to the Museum of Modern Art (MSN) to enable them to acquire the rights to the tree from its author. A further 400,000 zloty (€93,400) granted to MSN by the Polish Sculpture Center in Orońsko, south-eastern Poland, will be used to finance the palm’s restoration.
“The modernization will be thorough,” says MSN's Józefina Bartyzel. “The leaves will be replaced, and the bark will be new and real – the Polish Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, helped us obtain it and bring it over to Poland.” Additionally, the tree’s metal core will be specially coated to protect it against corrosion.
As for its location, plans to move the palm across the street to Smolna (and possibly further) have now been shelved and it will instead be shifted approximately eight meters to account for the area’s future layout.
OK, that's just weird.
Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Enthusiasm! ready and waiting at The Other McCain.
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