Praga-Północ, one of the oldest and most atmospheric districts of Warsaw, recently celebrated its 377th birthday. To mark the occasion, a unique art installation entitled “The Island of the Previous Day” was created in a symbolic place – the former bear enclosure on Solidarności Avenue, featuring glass cactus plants. The project was realised thanks to the cooperation between the Museum of Warsaw’s Praga and the Praga-Północ District Office, and its author is Viola Plaga-Głowacka. The construction elements were entrusted to Natalia Glowacka and Robert Malysz, while the glass elements were created by Maciej Rafalski’s Glass Studio.
Bear enclosure in Praga
The bear enclosure at Solidarności Avenue in Warsaw was created on the city’s initiative in the early 1950s as a supplement to the W-Z route and a showcase for the capital’s zoo. The first residents were the bears “Teddy” and “Elka”. After 2000, the enclosure housed the females ‘Tatra’, ‘Turnia’ and the male ‘Mirage’. In 2016, thanks to the civic budget, a cascade and more greenery were added. A year later, a mural ‘At the Teddy Bears’ was created on the building at 14 Floriańska Street. on 26 May 2021, after another incursion by an unauthorised person, the bears ‘Sabina’ and ‘Little’ were moved to the zoo. Since then, the enclosure has remained empty and has been used for artistic events.
“Previous Day Island” – the significance of the installation
The annual celebration of Prague’s birthday refers to the date of 10 February 1648, when the district was granted city rights. The aim of the installation was to create its artistic showcase in a place of exceptional historical and cultural significance. The former bear enclosure is one of the district’s iconic symbols that once attracted residents and tourists. “Previous Day’s Island” bridges the gap between the present and the past, drawing attention to the changes taking place in the urban space and their impact on the local community. One of the key elements of the installation are glass sculptures that are illuminated at night and resemble cactus plants. They symbolise the power of survival and steadfastness, which is of particular importance in the context of the dynamic transformations that Praga-Północ is undergoing. The cacti, which have developed the ability to live in extreme conditions, have become a metaphor for endurance and adaptation to harsh urban realities.
Recycling in contemporary art
The materials used to create the installation were not chosen at random. The glass elements were created from melted glass bottles found on the streets of Prague, which gives them an additional context. Each fragment of glass, before it went into the smelting furnace in Maciej Rafalski’s studio, was part of the Prague landscape and a witness to the everyday life of the district. The metal and wooden elements of the structure also come from recycled materials, which further emphasises the idea of reusing raw materials in contemporary art.
‘Previous Day’s Island’ as a polemicagainst the vision of a contemporary metropolis
The ‘Previous Day Island’ project is both an artistic installation and a form of reflection on the contemporary city and its transformations. Viola has been observing for years how Prague-North is changing under the influence of new investments and the gentrification process. The installation is an expression of an artistic dialogue with the utopian vision of the modern metropolis, which often overlooks the essence of local identity and culture. Although Praga-Północ is constantly evolving, it cannot forget its history and unique character. The installation aims not only to arouse aesthetic delight, but also to prompt reflection on the place of art in public space and on the impact of the contemporary world of consumption on cultural and artistic values.
New space for art in Wola
Viola Plaga-Głowska’s project is also part of the activities of the newly established gallery space ’63 Galery’ at 63 Wileńska St. It is there that artists address the issue of the presence of art in urban space and its relationship with the dynamically changing fabric of Warsaw. The discussion about the role of art in the urban agglomeration is becoming increasingly topical, and the ‘Island of the Previous Day’ is one example of how artistic activities can enliven and shape public space.
Project concept and implementation: Viola Plaga-Glowacka (instagram: glowackaviola, 63_galery)
Fabrication of construction elements (metal and wood): Natalia Glowacka (instagram: netlikk) and Robert Malysz (instagram: chlopakizlasu)
Glass elements: Maciej Rafalski Glass Workshop (instagram: maciejrafalski_glassproject)
Read also: Warsaw | Culture | Art | Glass | Art installation | whiteMAD on Instagram
