The third edition of the In Garden Art and Public Space Festival is fast approaching. Wojciech Januszczyk, artistic director of the event, talks about the idea of the festival, how it has changed over the years and what awaits the participants this year.
Wiktor Bochenek: This is the third edition of the In Garden Festival. How has the event changed over the past years?
Wojciech Januszczyk: The third edition has been expanded with a broader program. There will be more meetings, lectures, workshops, film screenings, and there will be more art in the space. At the same time, we don't want to overdo it and make the festival a moloch. We want the In Garden Festival to retain its intimate character, while aiming to change our approach to nature in the context of climate change.
"Chopin on the grass" concert during InGarden 2020
Photo: T. Kulbowski
Wiktor Bochenek: The title of the current edition is "Returns," what does it mean?
Wojciech Januszczyk: "Maturity" was the title of the first edition. We have reached such a level in society that we should be mature when looking at reality. "Enclave" is closure, also related to pandemonium, but also something unique in the environment, like sacrum and profanum. Meanwhile, the third installment, "Returns," is the need for architects to draw our attention when creating spaces and gardens to aspects of what we have turned away from, but should return to. These include natural issues related to biodiversity. We also want to talk about the use of so-called fourth nature, that is, nature that is not tamed by man, but nevertheless accompanies us in the form of what we call wasteland. This name is pejorative and needs to be changed, these are important enclaves of biodiversity in relation to the climate and cleaning up the city, at the same time they cost us little.
Hence the idea of "Return" to nature, which people often associate with a return to wild life. It's about returning to closed circuits and connections to the mechanisms of nature.
Beekeeping workshop during InGarden 2021
© In Garden Festival
Wiktor: Fourth nature is an interesting topic. Can people be persuaded of its unique value, just as they have been persuaded to mow their lawns less often in the city?
Wojciech: You can, you just need to raise the reputation of fourth nature. In many cities, the experience of not mowing lawns in road lanes with exposed elements where potential collisions occur has taken hold and is standard. Until 2-3 years ago, there were loud discussions that it was dusty and could promote accidents, people would die because of it. Since then, I have not heard of a single case of such a situation. This has caught on and become standard.
The "disco polo meadows" contributed to this. This is what I call flower meadows, which are very colorful and are a positive phenomenon. The term "disco polo" refers to their popularity. They were followed by unmowed lawns, and now we have high meadows that don't bother anyone.
festival banner
© In Garden Festival
Wiktor: What will we find at this year's festival?
Wojciech: First of all, demonstration gardens created by architects, landscape architects and artists, but also, among others, a Polish-Ukrainian garden created by children as part of the "Summer in the Theater" action.
There are 5-6 of our gardens, and there are also a great many additional events. The gardens are to refer to the theme of "Returns". We will present a garden related to still life as interpreted by the artist, who points out the possible change in the definition of still life, if we continue to act the way we do. There will be grandmother's gardens, as well as a garden that will show the image of Ukraine during the war.
Wiktor: Is it possible to put boundaries between what is human and what is natural in festival productions?
Wojciech: Of course. Art is human in nature, often growing in contrast to what we know from nature. In the case of the festival, the gardens tell us about this, about these relationships. And either there is a convergence or a clear boundary between what is human and what is natural. However, there is something that we should not forget in these considerations is that man, whether he wants it or not, is an element of nature. Such a bit of a prodigal son, but, nevertheless, he is.
Upcycling apiary from construction scaffolding
Photo by Wojciech Januszczyk
Wiktor: Will there be any material legacy left after the festival is over?
Wojciech: Personally, against the wishes of some, I liquidate all material heritage after each festival. I try to avoid repetitive installations. The gardens during the festival are a kind of exhibition, such variation must occur, referring to the Chelsea Flower Show, which is more garden-oriented than artistic, but there the works disappear.
show garden - overgrowth
© Wojciech Januszczyk
Wiktor: We are still before the "Returns," but it is also worth asking. Are there any ideas for future editions of the festival?
Wojciech: "Circulations" is what we want to present to the audience next year. The next edition is to show how to close the circulations of energy and matter in the garden space. Reduce the carbon footprint. How, for example, to use native wood to build a terrace, moving away from the common wooden furniture made of wood imported from logged rainforests. We also want to talk about what water retention should look like, without the use of big plastic tubs. In the meantime, I invite you to this year's installment of the festival in Lublin, it will be my pleasure to host everyone.
Wiktor: Thank you for the interview!
show garden - overgrowth
© Wojciech Januszczyk
