Planting the future at "Raj

Since its inception, the project has been accompanied by the idea that art can be a shared activity, and that every person has an influence on shaping the reality around them. "Raj" was created in 2009 as one of the first realizations of the Sculpture Park in Bródno, initiated by Paweł Althamer in collaboration with the Targówek District Office and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. This unusual sculpture-garden was created based on children's visions of Eden, which he translated into an actual plant composition. Since then, the garden has been constantly developing, and each season gives it a new character. "Raj" will gain a new face As part of this year's work, the garden will be enriched with new trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses and bulbous plants. One of the main elements of the project will be the "Gate to Paradise" – a rose-planted passage that will connect the existing rose garden with a new, more natural part of the garden. In front of the gate, more rose varieties of diverse colors will appear, including "Pomponella," "Aspirin Rose" and "New Dawn." They will be accompanied by: mountain pine, grasses, meadowsweets, lavenders and sages attracting pollinating insects, as well as bulbous plants, i.e. crocuses, daffodils and ornamental alliums, which will ensure flowering at different times of the season. Just behind the gate, among the trees, goatsbeard, cranesbills and other plants well adapted to partial shade and shade will appear. The composition will be complemented by ornamental shrubs such as: white dogwood, physicocarp, smokebush, as well as new trees-judas trees. The birch alley will be supplemented with missing specimens. Over time, they will create a more natural, multi-layered space, increasing the garden's biodiversity and providing additional shaded areas. The area around the water reservoir will remain open, preserving the view of the fountain located there. Community planting is something more than gardening work. Paweł Althamer wants to show participants that creation does not have to be limited to an art studio. Planting a plant is a simple action whose effects can be visible for many years. It is an opportunity to have a real influence on the space around us. Anyone can be a creator An important element of the undertaking is also direct contact with nature. Working with the soil allows one to experience its creative energy, and at the same time can be a form of practicing mindfulness. The artist would like to instill, especially in young people, an interest in gardening, sensitivity to nature and the pleasure flowing from being among greenery. "Raj" is not solely an artwork intended for viewing. It is a place to which one can return, observe the growth of planted plants, rest and enjoy the closeness of nature. As Krzysztof Miszewski, Mayor of the Targówek District, says: "The Sculpture Park in Bródno has for years shown that art can go beyond the walls of galleries and become part of the everyday life of residents. At the foundation of its creation was not only the creation of unique works of art in open space, but above all the building of relationships between people, their immediate surroundings and nature. 'Raj' by Paweł Althamer is an exceptional example of this. It is a place where nature, art, local history and residents meet. 'Raj' refers both to the symbolic vision of Eden and to the memory of the allotment gardens that were part of this place for years. Today we can together write its next chapters, developing a space that lives, changes and matures with successive generations of residents." The Targówek District Office, Paweł Althamer and the Museum of Modern Art invite all residents to participate in the community planting. You don't need to be an artist or an experienced gardener to become part of "Raj." Students from the school of which Paweł Althamer is a graduate will also take part in the planting. Together we can create something that will grow and delight successive generations of visitors to Bródno Park. The event will take place on October 28, 2026, Wednesday, at 11:00 AM at the "Raj" installation.