The ‘Prima Ballerina’ fountain has stood in Kościuszko Square in Poddębice since 2024. The creator of this extraordinary installation is the sculptor Małgorzata Chodakowska, known for her work with bronze and water as equal materials. The fountain’s composition features three slender figures of ballerinas, with water flowing from their waists like light skirts billowing in the wind.
“Prima Ballerina” in Poddębice
The fountain was unveiled on 3 August 2024. It was built in a square in the centre of Poddębice, created after the demolition of the former “Handlowiec” pavilion. For many years, the building had marred the small-town surroundings of Kościuszko Square, which is why it was eventually demolished. The space thus freed up became the perfect location for the town’s new landmark. The authorities made it clear that the fountain was intended to serve as a symbol of Poddębice, much like, for example, the graduation towers in Ciechocinek.
A work by Małgorzata Chodakowska
The creation of the town’s new landmark was entrusted to the sculptor Małgorzata Chodakowska, who has had long-standing ties with Poddębice and currently lives in Dresden. Her portfolio includes numerous projects in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Chodakowska’s work lies at the intersection of sculpture and water installations. The artist works by juxtaposing heavy, durable bronze with dynamic, ever-changing water. On Kościuszko Square, she employed this same, familiar artistic language, giving it a very light and visually pleasing form.
Movement captured in bronze
The central motif of the “Prima Ballerina” fountain is formed by three figures of ballerinas, each approximately two metres tall. Each of them is frozen in a different moment of the dance, thus creating a sense of a choreographic sequence stretched out over time. The women’s silhouettes are not confined to static poses. The gesture of one figure is continued by the next. The faces of the sculptures convey an impression of expressive concentration, so as not to miss a single step. Their smoothly arranged hairstyles resemble classic ballet buns, and the proportions of their bodies emphasise the discipline and harmony of dance.
The fountain in Poddębice
Visually, the most striking feature here is, of course, the water – the very essence of any fountain. Its streams flow around the silhouettes of each ballerina, creating translucent panels reminiscent of light skirts. As a result, the boundary between matter and its movement becomes blurred, disappearing with every drop of flowing water. Here, bronze provides the structure and durability, whilst the liquid introduces change and dynamism to the entire installation. After dark, ‘Prima Ballerina’ takes on a whole new dimension. The lighting brings out the warm tones of the bronze and highlights the flow of the water, which begins to resemble a delicate, luminous fabric. The fountain itself is set in a small pool, surrounded by manicured greenery and small-scale architectural features. The entire project was preceded by archaeological research, and the cost of the project amounted to approximately PLN 3 million.
“Prima Ballerina” and its significance
The new fountain has been met with an extremely positive response from residents. “Prima Ballerina” is currently the most photographed spot in Poddębice. However, the general interest in Małgorzata Chodakowska’s work is not as great as its local fame might suggest. This is rather puzzling, as the delicate dancers, surrounded by streams of water, can easily rival the most famous fountains in major cities – and not just in Poland. It is rare to find such a subtle and compelling depiction of movement in a public space. Poddębice has every reason to be proud!
Source: poddebice.pl, poddebice.naszemiasto.pl
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