Sculptures of LIXA competition winners and laureates

Ola Skorupa

27 of June '24

"Harmony of contrasts" project

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Maciej Rembielinski, Jakub Augustyniak and Zofia Jackowska were awarded in the Lix sculpture competition. The winning project: "Harmony of Contrasts" will be realized and the object will stand in front of an office building on Kasprzaka Street in Warsaw.The spatial models of the works "Sunflowers in Wola" and "Homo viator" will in turn become part of the interior design of the office complex.

Lixa office complex

competition

The competition was addressed to students of the Media Imaging Studio and graduates of the Media Art Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, whose task was to create a large-format outdoor sculpture designed specifically for the architectural space of the LIXA office campus (proj.: HRA Architects). The sculpture was to blend in with the existing space and be an integral part of the landscape, while also acting as an identifying element of the location. The results of the competition were published on our portal.

Twenty-three works meeting the statutory criteria were submitted to the competition. Their evaluation was carried out by a jury chaired by Prof. Slawomir Ratajski, Dean of the Faculty of Media Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

As dean of the Faculty of Media Art, I must express great satisfaction at the opportunity for our students to participate in such a professional competition, which gives them an extremely rare opportunity to realize a lasting artistic project in urban space. It raises hope in the students to continue fulfilling their artistic aspirations in public life. I also hope that the very good results of the competition will encourage Yareal Poland, the sponsor of the competition, to further cooperate with our Department, " says Prof. Slawomir Ratajski.

In addition, the committee included Stanisław Rewski of HRA Architekci studio, Wojciech Wagner - Deputy Director, Office of Architecture and Spatial Planning of the City of Warsaw, and representatives of Yareal Polska - Jacek Zengteler, President of the Board, and Olga Prokopiak, Marketing Director. The Pro-Dean of the Warsaw Academy of Management, Dr. Katarzyna Stanny, professor of the university, acted as secretary of the competition.

Jury - from left: Wojciech Wagner - Deputy Director, Office of Architecture and Spatial Planning of the City of Warsaw, Jacek Zengteler, President of the Management Board of Yareal Polska, Olga Prokopiak, Marketing Director of Yareal Polska, Dr. Katarzyna Stanny, Prof. of the University, Pro-Dean of the WSM, Prof. Slawomir Ratajski, Dean of the Faculty of Media Art of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and Stanislaw Rewski of the HRA Architects studio.

"Harmony of Contrasts".

The sculpture depicts a balanced relationship between two opposing elements: the softness of light and the solidity of steel and concrete. It symbolizes the balance between the dynamics of the urban landscape and the human quest for harmony. The central element is a chrome-plated steel pipe, representing modernity and technological progress. Its shiny surface reflects its surroundings, creating cohesion with the space around it. Three concrete blocks were placed on the pipe, symbolizing the foundations of any great undertaking. The concept of the sculpture expresses not only the aesthetic values of art, but also a message about the balance between tradition and modernity, strength and delicacy, stability and dynamism. "Harmony of Contrasts" encourages reflection on man's relationship with his environment and the importance of harmony in the context of today's corporate life.

The project "Harmony of contrasts" - projection

Maciej Rembielinski's object consists of a chrome pipe 20-30 centimeters wide (depending on the location). Three concrete blocks measuring 80 × 30 × 40 centimeters are placed on the pipe. The sculpture is 6.5 meters long, 2.7 meters wide, and 4.3 meters high (at the highest points).

"Harmony of contrasts" project - views

"Sunflowersin Wola".

The work of Jakub Augustyniak harmoniously combines the history of the place with modernity, referring to the tradition and idea of the Biennale of Sculpture in Metal, which took place in Wola in 1968. The project pays tribute to the idea of upcycling and recycling, key values of that event. The sculpture responds to contemporary values and raises questions about ecology, social, climatic and economic changes.

Situated in a sunny space, the work blends in with its surroundings, depicting sunflowers catching the sun's rays, casting a warm yellow shadow on the office space and surrounding grounds. The contrasting color refers to the original color scheme of the sculpture "Giraffe" by Dariusz Frycz ,made during the Biennale, emphasizing the importance of ecology and standing out in the urban space as a distinctive point on the map of the Wola district and all of Warsaw.

Project "Sunflowers in Wola".

The structure of the sculpture consists of three sunflowers 7, 6.3 and 5.5 meters high, respectively, with flowers 3.5, 3 and 2.5 meters wide. Made of black-painted steel, using as much recycled material as possible, the sunflowers have steel stems with openwork leaves, adding lightness to the structure. The flowers, made of tinted recycled glass, attract attention and integrate the community into the building.

"Sunflowers in Wola" project.

"Homo viator"

Zofia Jackowska's sculpture refers to the well-known iconographic motif of the human traveler, the Latin "homo viator." In a philosophical context, this topos depicts man's constant wandering from birth to death, which is a metaphor for human existence. The project responds to the specificity of the place, serving as a stop on the daily journey towards personal development.

The form and material of the 3.5-meter sculpture (metal, fixed with screws), refer to the industrial character of the district and to the existing metal sculptures located within the district. "Homo viator," according to the concept, is intended not only to enrich the space, but also to remind us of the continuous path that each of us takes in life.