The palm tree at the General Charles de Gaulle roundabout, i.e. Joanna Rajkowska's artistic installation “Greetings from Aleje Jerozolimskie”, was donated to the Museum of Modern Art – informed the Culture Office at the capital city hall.
The palm was donated to the museum by the artist herself. The artistic installation will thus be included in the collection. As the culture office pointed out, the facility requires renovation, so in the autumn it will undergo a general renovation, which is to be completed with the opening new MSN headquarters.
Meeting with Joanna Rajkowska
“The renovation of the Palm, including the replacement of leaves and bark and the conservation of the steel structure of the sculpture, is financed from the funds of the Polish Sculpture Centre in Orońsko's 'Sculpture in public space for an independent country – 2024' programme from the budget of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage,” the press release explained.
“The renovation will be accompanied by public events that will broaden the context of the assembly and maintenance works carried out at the de Gaulle roundabout. The planned activities include a meeting with the artist as part of her solo exhibition 'Ślepowrony' at the lokal_30 gallery and a meeting of people involved in the 24-year history of the project (including residents of the city of Warsaw), which will take place in the auditorium of the new seat of the MSN,” the culture office said, adding that “detailed information will be published by the organizers at a later date.”
The inauguration of the new seat of the Museum of Modern Art at Plac Defilad is scheduled for October 25. “The program of events, open to everyone, will last three weeks and will be a preview of future activities of the MSN,” it was announced in a press release.
“Greetings from Aleje Jerozolimskie”
The artificial palm tree from the de Gaulle roundabout, i.e. the installation “Greetings from Aleje Jerozolimskie” by Joanna Rajkowska, was placed on 12 December 2002.
“Greetings from Aleje Jerozolimskie” is a work inspired by the artist's visit to Israel. It is meant to remind us of the origins of the name of one of Warsaw's main arteries (Aleje Jerozolimskie used to lead to the settlement of Nowa Jerozolima, located behind today's Zawiszy Square). It was made by an American manufacturer for almost 12 thousand dollars. It is an imitation of a date palm, which grows in Asia Minor and North Africa. Work on its production and installation lasted a year and a half.
Initially, it aroused controversy, but over time it “grew into” the landscape of Warsaw and even became one of its recognizable symbols.
Main image source: TVN24