At the end of May this year, the Whispers installation by Oskar Zięta was presented in London’s Fleet Street Quarter. The ceremonial unveiling of the sculpture took place as part of the opening of the London Festival of Architecture 2025 and is one of the highlights of the UK/Poland Season.
Zięta’s design was created using his proprietary FiDU (Freie Innendruck Umformung) technology, which involves shaping steel using internal pressure induced by compressed air. This method produces light, spatial forms with a dynamic structure. The installation, which consists of two cylindrical parts, was set up at 60 Ludgate Hill and fits in with this year’s festival slogan: Voices. The artist’s work explores the theme of human presence in urban space and the importance of individual voices in design processes. The sculpture was realised by the Fleet Street Quarter BID in collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Polish Institute in London, the Let’s Art Foundation, On & On Designs and the British Council. This unique artistic agreement highlights the importance, ingenuity and achievements of Polish designers, engineers and artists, supporting the development of cultural dialogue between Poland and the UK and opening up new perspectives for the next generation of artists.
The organisers stress that Whispers has symbolic significance for the ongoing transformation of the district. Known in the past as the centre of the publishing industry, Fleet Street is now becoming a space open to culture, innovation and new forms of urban expression. The public and passers-by were able to observe the process of sculpture formation in real time. The event was accompanied by a performance that allowed direct involvement of the audience. The installation has an interactive function and invites the public to stop, rest or reflect for a while. One can sit on it and experience its materiality in a direct way. The artist and the organisers emphasise the importance of art as a medium that builds community and social sensitivity. Zięta’s installation is intended as a reminder that any urban space should take into account the voices of those who use it. Whispers is treated both as a work of art and as a gesture inviting people to listen more carefully and be present in a shared space.
Source: centralparknyc.org, en.wikipedia.org
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