{"id":9199,"date":"2024-11-19T16:17:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T15:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/instytutpolski.pl\/london\/?p=9199"},"modified":"2025-02-14T17:43:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T16:43:08","slug":"alicja-patanowska-creates-first-artist-installation-for-the-urban-farmer-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/instytutpolski.pl\/london\/2024\/11\/19\/alicja-patanowska-creates-first-artist-installation-for-the-urban-farmer-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Alicja Patanowska creates first artist installation for the Urban Farmer Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

10am \u2013 4pm, Monday to Friday, from 19 November to 7 February<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come and see Alicja Patanowska’s PLANTATION<\/em> at 18 Wine Office Court, EC4A 3JR (corner of Shoe Lane)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLANTATION<\/em> is available for sale on-site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fleet Street Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) has just unveiled PLANTATION<\/em> by Polish artist Alicja Patanowska. This new installation is co-produced with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Cultural Institute in London, Let\u2019s Art Foundation, and On & On Designs as part of preparations for the 2025 UK\/Poland Culture and Creative Season organised in collaboration with the British Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first artist installation in the new Urban Farmer Project in the heart of the City of London. PLANTATION<\/em> is a series of hand-made porcelain elements designed for growing plants, herbs and vegetables using hydroponics, combined with repurposed drink glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Polish artist Alicja Patanowska and her work PLANTATION, the first artist installation in the new Urban Farmer Project. The work is co-produced with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Cultural Institute in London, Let\u2019s Art Foundation, and On & On Designs. Photo credit: Belinda Jiao\/PA Wire.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patanowska presents 200 vessels displayed across shelves on a purpose-built unit, where visitors can observe them growing as a live artwork over the exhibition duration. The artist will also host workshops about the process of hydroponic planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project was conceived ten years ago when the artist was studying at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. She was struck by the vast amount of discarded glasses on the streets outside bars and pubs, and felt compelled to upcycle these materials into something aesthetic and desirable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patanowska has a long-held interest in gardening, but did not have her own outdoor space in London. With a background in pottery, she combined the glasses with porcelain to create the hydroponic planters, as a substitute for a garden. Working with a variety of glass shapes, from pint glasses to champagne flutes, through experimentation she designed four planter shapes which fit every type of glass and allow plants to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She has previously presented PLANTATION<\/em> at institutions including the Museum of the Future, Dubai (2023), the National Museum in Krakow, Poland (2018 & 2022), and the Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro (2016). Aside from the four shapes already in production, 50% of the planters on display this winter will be new shapes, unique to the London installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Urban Farmer Project is an initiative delivered in partnership with Landsec and London\u2019s Community Kitchen, with support from Square Mile Farms. It follows London\u2019s Community Kitchen\u2019s model of using waste food to not only feed people, but as a tool to develop skills in the community. It was proposed by Fleet Street Quarter in line with the partners\u2019 ambitions to create an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable area. It is an example of Landsec\u2019s forward-thinking approach to vacant retail space, repurposing an empty unit into space with meanwhile use for the wider community.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The Urban Farmer Project has been unveiled in the City of London, an educational and cultural hub dedicated to addressing food poverty and widening access to sustainable farm produce. A joint initiative by The Fleet Street Quarter BID, Landsec, and London\u2019s Community Kitchen, this project uses surplus food to feed people, and to develop skills in the community. Pictured are Oliver Hunt, Development Director at Landsec, Lucy French, CEO of Fleet Street Quarter BID, and Taz Khan MBE, Founder of London\u2019s Community Kitchen. Photo credit: Belinda Jiao\/PA Wire.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is located at the former bar within Landsec\u2019s Hill House development, just north of Fleet Street, creating a marketplace, education hub and events space designed to address food poverty, widen access to sustainable farm produce and promote British agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alicja Patanowska, artist <\/strong>\u2013 \u201cI am delighted that PLANTATION will form part of the Urban Farmer Project. Creating a more eco-conscious community, expanding green spaces in the city, and sharing knowledge about the vital role of caring for nature in achieving a balanced life are essential as we face the climate crisis.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucy French, CEO of Fleet Street Quarter BID<\/strong> \u2013 „It is fantastic to be working with the Polish Cultural Institute, based in the heart of the Fleet Street Quarter and On & On Designs, to bring Alicja Patanowska’s remarkable installation to our community. PLANTATION exemplifies the ambition of the Urban Farmer Project, fusing sustainability, education and creativity and affirming our FSQ vision of creating a climate resilient district for all to enjoy. We are delighted to be developing our cultural connections with Poland.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oliver Hunt, Development Director, Landsec <\/strong>\u2013 \u201cPLANTATION is an important addition to the Urban Farmer Project, bringing art into the Fleet Street Quarter and City of London. The wider Urban Farmer Project will transform Hill House into an exciting meanwhile use that drives social value in the area by addressing food waste.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the artist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patanowska is a visual artist, designer, potter and doctor of arts based in Pozna\u0144, Poland. Knowledge acquired in direct contact with material is crucial for her artistic practice. Her response to the escalation of consumption chaos is to consider the non-anthropocentric perspective in man’s relationship with the world. She is interested in plants and barter exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She graduated from the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. She is the recipient of awards including Audience Awards of the 18th Survival Art Review (2021), Mazda Design Award (2018), and British Glass Biennale (2015). Her works are included in art and design collections at institutions including The National Museum in Krakow, The Hotel Europejski Art Collection, and The Shanghai Museum of Glass. Her products are available in museum shops globally, including MoMA, Deutsche Bank Kunsthalle, Barbican Centre and TATE Modern. She has participated in solo and group exhibitions around the world, spanning the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Korea, Germany, Azerbaijan, Sweden, Finland, China, and Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.patanowska.com<\/a> | @alicjapatanowska<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Photo credit: Belinda Jiao\/ PA Media Assignments<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s Art Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s Art Foundation mission is to enhance the skills of those involved in the artistic, cultural, and business sectors, creating a space for learning, growth, and inspiration. By supporting artists, the foundation simultaneously cares for the development of local communities, building bridges between art and everyday life. The foundation also supports international exhibitions, such as showcasing the work of Oskar Zi\u0119ta at the London Design Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/designingtomorrow.pl<\/a> | @lets_art_fund<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On & On Designs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On&On Designs connects European creative talents with the UK cultural, retail, and interior architecture sectors, fostering a dialogue on the transformative power of creativity. Using exhibitions and events, they strategically bring design and commerce together to drive meaningful change. Their portfolio includes collaborations with artists such as Alicja Patanowska, which began after her graduation from the RCA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.onandondesigns.com<\/a> | @onandondesigns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polish Cultural Institute in London<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Institute focus lies in promoting Polish culture and heritage to the British audiences, as well as developing collaborations and building bridges between key cultural or academic institutions in Poland and the UK. Through nurturing these relationships, providing access to essential cultural resources and supporting through funding, PCI London can successfully showcase the best of Polish art, film, theatre, music, literature, science, and heritage to culturally diverse residents of the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.instytutpolski.pl<\/a> | @polish_culture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Urban Farmer Project<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Urban Farmer Project submission was validated by the City of London on the 12th February under the reference 24\/00094\/FULL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hill House is subject to redevelopment proposals, noting Landsec submitted a planning application in October 2023 under the reference 23\/01102\/FULMAJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located just north of Fleet Street, Hill House \u2013 an existing office building \u2013 would be redeveloped into a state-of-the-art flexible office space, designed to meet the needs of both larger occupiers and smaller businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plans include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n