At the invitation of Alicja Patanowska - artist, designer and potter, and Aleksandra Kędziorek - curator, we had the great pleasure of designing the arrangement of the installation “We Are the Weather” in the atrium of the Justus Lipsius Building in Brussels. The exhibition is part of a cultural program prepared by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute on the occasion of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The title of exhibition comes from Jonathan Safran Foer’s book, We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast (2019).
THE STORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Alicja Patanowska shows water as a symbol of mutual, inter-species dependence. The installation consists of three elements. Fountains from the perspective of water tell the story of climate change. Cobalt “water catchers” refer to water as a valuable resource that requires common care and protection. The composition of ceramic tiles reminds us of its limited availability. The work encourages reflection on mutual dependence, solidarity and cooperation, values important in striving for a safe and sustainable future.
FABRIC PRINTED IN A GRADIENT OF OUR DESIGN
Shading from cobalt blue to terracotta orange, gradient printed curtains create the background for Alicja Patanowska’s work. We design gradient pattern in a referral to the “Climate Stripes” diagrams showing how the climate is changing and how water is slowly evaporating.
“The fountains tell the story of climate change from the perspective of water, which I interpret not only as a symbol of life but also as a metaphor for the interdependence of species.” Alicja Patanowska.
FLOWING LINE
In the exhibition arrangement, we connected Alicja Patanowska's ceramic objects with a flowing line, referring to water. The wave, appearing in the shape of the carpet, construction elements and delicate transparent textile printed in a gradient we designed, leads the viewer along the atrium, giving direction to the exhibition.
We continue a gradient motif in a design of display for Alicja Patanowska’s ceramic tiles, in a space arranged by an architect Katarzyna Baumiller.
Commissioned by: Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Exhibition design: Marta Szostek, Matylda Halkowicz, Natalia Wojciechowska
Artist: Alicja Patanowska
Curator: Aleksandra Kędziorek
Producer: Marcin Baranowski
Textile: Dekoma Fabrics
Photo copyright: ©European Union
Photo: Marek Swoboda / IAM
2025 Polish EU Presidency
Behind the scenes