Press release, 28/6/2022
'Nature is reflected in music' Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020)
On 29 June at 1.30 p.m., the 'Playing Tree' multimedia installation accompanying the 'Penderecki's Garden' project will be officially inaugurated at the Royal Łazienki Park. The composer’s wife, Mrs Elżbieta Penderecka, will attend the inauguration, featuring a short concert by the Atom String Quartet.
The installation will be integrated into the immediate surroundings of the trees without interfering with their form. This idea juxtaposes nature with music, creating a combination beloved by Krzysztof Penderecki. The installation’s structure is designed to have a tree at its centre, which, together with its immediate surroundings, will be reflected in its mirrored surfaces. The musical element used in the installation will be Piotr Orzechowski's ‘Mała partita w starym stylu’ [Little partita in the old style], inspired by the work of Krzysztof Penderecki. The piece is a composition commissioned by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
The sound is played loud enough to be audible to a passer-by, but its source is not entirely obvious. When those interested in the sound attempt to locate it and approach the installation, the sensors will identify the visitor's proximity, which will trigger it. The sound of the song coming from the speakers will become louder, making it easy to listen to.
"The Playing Tree" also has a QR code linking to the online platform "Penderecki's Garden" - www.pendereckisgarden.pl - created by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute after the composer's death. The installation will encourage visitors to learn not only about the composer's music but also about the composer himself.
"Nature and music - this juxtaposition has always been essential and inspiring for Krzysztof Penderecki. I think that presenting his music in the space of nature, in such close connection with what surrounds us, would have won his appreciation. I also welcome the opportunity to introduce a wider audience to his work - sometimes challenging, but also intriguing, especially when combined with such ambient contexts," says Elżbieta Penderecka.
"The strength of the 'Playing Tree' installation is not only its interactivity per se but the element of mystery, a certain challenge it poses to the casual passer-by. After all, discovering the source of the sound requires a certain effort - even if it is only an effort to take an interest in the world around us," notes Barbara Schabowska, director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
"Krzysztof Penderecki's music is not only a supreme artistic achievement that spiritually enriches listeners but also a Polish cultural heritage. The composer's love of nature, materialised in his garden at Lutosławice, makes the Royal Baths a natural place for an installation that will allow our audience to have the extraordinary experience of tasting music in the gardens," - says Małgorzata Grąbczewska, Deputy Director of
Museum Affairs at the Royal Łazienki Museum.
The ceremonial launch of the installation will take place on 29 June at 1:30 pm
at the Royal Baths Park in Warsaw in a space 50 metres from the South Gate - entrance from Gagarina Street.
A prototype of the 'Playing Tree' installation will be presented at the Royal Lazienki Park. In 2023, it is planned to deploy 10 twin installations
in prestigious and frequented locations abroad so that Krzysztof Penderecki's compositions can be experienced by walking
and travelling around the world.
Funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the 2017-2022 INDEPENDENCE Multiannual Programme.
The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is a national cultural institution established in 2000. The Institute's aim - to build lasting interest in Polish culture worldwide - is pursued in cooperation with foreign partners and through international cultural exchange in dialogue with recipients, in line with the principles of Polish foreign policy. As of 2022, the Institute has completed projects in over 70 countries on six continents. The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is organised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Media Contact
Marta Sadurska
