Sketches for Gardening: Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw I
57 botanical labels installed at the Ujazdowski Castle's surrounding greenery
Printed plexiglass and metal, 9 x 7 cm each plaque, variable heights.
2025
This work stems from a previous workshop developed at the CCA during the Autumn 2024.
Ruderal and feral plants growing spontaneously at the sides of the former hospital and current Contemporary Art Center Ujzadowski Castle were identified during spring and early summer 2025. Various of the plants identified match species that Polish botanist Roman Kobendza would identify as "ruderal plants" in post-war Warsaw.
Ruderal species are plants that thrive from disturbed soils' toxicity caused by industrialization processes and war-related pollution. In this case, as the former hospital was bombarded during WWII, research consisted in identifying ruderal plants, and focusing on situated stories of war. Botanical plaques were made and located around the CCA's building and former hospital. A poetic approach was taken for writing the botanical labels, by tapping into the medicinal capacities and agency, intelligence and guidance of the plants themselves. Plants were invoked in their historical associations in the context of war, their capacities for fixing chemical debris, and their work as medicine.
The result were a series of small aphorisms that would compose the botanical plaques, disrupting also the normalcy in which plants are scientifically labelled. Plaques were made in collaboration with the Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw.
Commission by the CCA Uzjadowski Castle for the show "Soil and Friends", curated by Marianna Dobkowska and Edith Jeřábková. Research collaborators: Anna Wandzel and Krysia Jedrzejewska-szmek. Photography: Bartosz Górka
Printed plexiglass and metal, 9 x 7 cm each plaque, variable heights.
2025
This work stems from a previous workshop developed at the CCA during the Autumn 2024.
Ruderal and feral plants growing spontaneously at the sides of the former hospital and current Contemporary Art Center Ujzadowski Castle were identified during spring and early summer 2025. Various of the plants identified match species that Polish botanist Roman Kobendza would identify as "ruderal plants" in post-war Warsaw.
Ruderal species are plants that thrive from disturbed soils' toxicity caused by industrialization processes and war-related pollution. In this case, as the former hospital was bombarded during WWII, research consisted in identifying ruderal plants, and focusing on situated stories of war. Botanical plaques were made and located around the CCA's building and former hospital. A poetic approach was taken for writing the botanical labels, by tapping into the medicinal capacities and agency, intelligence and guidance of the plants themselves. Plants were invoked in their historical associations in the context of war, their capacities for fixing chemical debris, and their work as medicine.
The result were a series of small aphorisms that would compose the botanical plaques, disrupting also the normalcy in which plants are scientifically labelled. Plaques were made in collaboration with the Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw.
Commission by the CCA Uzjadowski Castle for the show "Soil and Friends", curated by Marianna Dobkowska and Edith Jeřábková. Research collaborators: Anna Wandzel and Krysia Jedrzejewska-szmek. Photography: Bartosz Górka
