A few days ago, one of the outdoor sculptures located in Warsaw’s Fosa and Stoki Cytadeli Park was vandalised. The information about the incident was reported by the ZielonyŻoliborz initiative. On the night of 6-7 January, the work “Wioślarz” (The Oarsman) by Jan Sajdak, an artist who has been involved in projects based on natural materials and dialogue with the landscape for many years, was damaged.
The vandalism was reported by councillor Łukasz Ostrowski, who was alerted by one of the concerned residents. Tomasz Mielcarz went to the site and found “The Oarsman” by the gate, 50 metres from where it originally stood. The sculpture has broken legs and damaged arms, which indicates deliberate action. The work has been secured and deposited until the author decides on its future. This was not the first case of vandalism of “The Oarsman”. A few weeks earlier, the wooden figure lost its head as a result of similar actions.
“The Oarsman” as an element of landscape art
The installation appeared in the park in the second half of 2020 as part of a series of outdoor projects. Made of wood and wicker, the form depicted a dynamic figure with clearly defined musculature, inscribed in the natural terrain. The object quickly became a recognisable feature of this part of the citadel, affecting viewers through its scale, gesture and relationship with its surroundings. The author repeatedly emphasised that sculptures of this type have a limited lifespan. Natural biological and atmospheric processes were taken into account in the design concept from the outset. The gradual decay of the material was to lead to the reintegration of the form into the natural cycle, without the need for human intervention. However, an act of vandalism interrupted this process in a violent and external manner.
The work of Jan Sajdak
Jan Sajdak’s work develops at the intersection of sculpture, land art and outdoor installations. The artist consistently uses organic materials such as wicker, hazel and unprocessed wood. His works in the landscape function as temporary interventions in space, often undergoing gradual transformations under the influence of natural conditions. The land art in which Sajdak works assumes a close connection between artistic activity and place. Space does not serve as a neutral background, but becomes a co-creator of the project. Erosion, moisture, temperature changes and vegetation growth are treated as equal elements of the creative process.
“The Oarsman” by Jan Sajdak
Jan Sajdak was born in 1987. He first studied ethnology and cultural anthropology at the University of Warsaw, and then at the Faculty of Sculpture of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where he graduated with honours in 2016 from the studio of Prof. Antoni J. Pastwa. In 2018, he was awarded a scholarship from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and the capital city of Warsaw. His artistic activity includes projects in Poland and abroad, as well as cooperation with cultural institutions and social organisations. In addition to sculpture, the artist is involved in music, playing the Afro-Brazilian berimbau, and carries out gallery and outdoor projects related to social and environmental issues.
Source: Secrets of Warsaw, GreenŻoliborz
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