The installation is a reflection of the Pavilion’s motto, “Poland. Creativity inspired by nature.”
The installation is built from more than 120 modules – milled blocks of the Polish ashwood. Each of them comes is a shape of a aspect of Poland – its landscape, topography, urban space. All elements were put together with a generative design algorithm, while the source data came from the Earth observation programme Copernicus.
Polish Table inviting guests to discover how the natural world, heritage and new technologies can inspire an intercultural setting that emphasizes the virtue of Polish hospitality.
The originator of the “Polish Table” is the consortium Science Now, Stellar Fireworks and Tellart. The design of the installation was prepared by RAZ, while Ejsak Group made the structure of the “Polish Table”, wooden elements and the interactive layer of the installation.
Polish Table has become a symbol of multicultural meetings and welcoming the guests, and at the same time, through an interactive, light projection, a place of contact with the Polish language.
It is filled with stories and vivid cultural accents, bits and pieces about the country’s resources, contemporary science and technology, and unique design.
Turn your voice into light
“A visitor who comes to the pavilion, walks up to the Polish Table, speaks into the microphone, greets to other people standing at the table. Microphone reacts and starts to light up to the appropriate animation of LEDs.”
“We wanted to create an engaging installation that could become the symbol of the Polish Pavilion by inviting guests to discover how the natural world, heritage and new technologies can inspire an intercultural setting that emphasizes the virtue of Polish hospitality. The “Polish Table” is a meeting point for the Pavilion’s guests, but also is multiple creators and invited artists, engineers and entrepreneurs.”— say Jan Pomierny and Łukasz Alwast, leaders of Science Now and Stellar Fireworks companies.
Video by ASF Studio
Ceramics
“The emotions I had inside me went straight down into material. The result of this was that I simply cried.”
DECORATION DESIGNER
Małgorzata Szewc
“As a decoration designer of Zakłady Ceramiczne Sp. z o.o. I had the opportunity to work with a team of incredible people responsible for creating a ceramic module for "The Polish Table". It was a very inspiring experience for me.”
Clay and glaze
Ceramics are based on clay and glaze. When the clay is dry, you start glazing, and then put it in the oven to transform. The entire process involved a number of people.
The cups for Asian tea
Polish ceramics products are exported all over the world. Even to South Korea, the United States, Taiwan and Japan. Poland is also leading producer of ceramic tiles in the EU.
Design by patience
Traditional decoration is made by ceramic paints. Paints are applied with the stamps which are made of sponges.
SHAPE DESIGNER
Marta Małoszyc
“There are elements associated with Poland that should be emphasized. Among other things, these are the raw materials our country has, which can be used to produce ceramic masses. Clay is a great means of expression. And through the modules, I would like to highlight that there are amazing artists and creators in Poland, who choose to work with clay.”
Stories from the Polish Table — Ceramics
The topic, ideas, emotions, conversations — all of that you can express in clay.
Video by ASF Studio.
Glass
“The process of blowing glass is very fast and dynamic and everything changes in a second.”
Glass and wood
The glass module is located in the topography of the table and surrounded closely by wooden modules. Similar to the manual production of blown glass, where the wood provides a cover during the blowing process.
Artist
Agnieszka Bar
“As a designer, I appreciate the opportunity to make an individual comment about Polish resources and Polish industry through a visual symbol. Cooperation with the "Łużyce" Glassworks was an opportunity for me to a dialogue and a creation of an optimal solution. Equally valuable is the fact of coexistence with creative expressions of other artists within the one project.”
Glassworks
Agnieszka Bar cooperated with Pieńskie Łużyce Glassworks on creating glass module. In this case glassmakers were doing something that is not done in glassmaking, which is blowing glass into a wooden mold without turning it. Due to the fact that the glass was not turned the texture of the wood stuck to the glass.
Silica Sand
Silica sand, which is used in glass production its non-renewable. We should bring to attention to how we use natural resources. Thats why the soft-edged transparent cubes recall melting blocks of ice. It is an illustration of the limited sand deposits.
Stories from the Polish Table – Glass
Creating glass is a beautiful and manual process. From concept to final effect – see all its stages.
Video by ASF Studio
Copper and silver
Leading producer
Poland is ranked among the countries holding the largest anticipated economic resources of silver and copper, respectively. Moreover, Poland is a leading producer of electrolytic copper and the leader of silver production.
Silver — by product
Only 28% of silver comes from mining activities where silver is the primary source of revenue. The remaining 72% comes from projects where silver is a by-product of mining other metals, such as copper.
ARCHITECT AND ARTIST
Oskar Zięta
“Zieta Studio designed a silver object and three copper forms. On the one hand, they reflect our company’s DNA, which was developed through experiments with metal and volumetric expansion. On the other, they show the artistic and innovative aspect of working with metal.”
Silver Mine
It is located in Upper Silesia, in Tarnowskie Gory. The labyrinth of mining excavations dates back to the 15th century but its development continued over five hundred years to 20th century. Today it is a unique tourist attraction with a route over one mile long, including a part covered by boat, is open to public.
“The concept of Zieta Studio modules refers also to the KGHM company, a Polish multinational corporation located in Lower Silesia, which is the largest silver mine in the world.”
Stories from the Polish Table — Copper and silver
Zieta Studio modules are sculptures referring to the mountain ranges’ cross-sections. It can be compared to the geological processes, which lead to the formation of mountain peaks.
Video by ASF Studio.
Wood
Top producer of furniture
Poland is the 2nd exporter in the World and the 6th producer of furniture. The Polish wood industry is thriving and provides excellent raw material for the furniture industry. Proactive measures conducted by the State Forests ensure sustainable forest management.
ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER
Maciej Siuda
“It is important not to oversimplify the world, because the world is colorful, diverse, and rich. We are different from each other and I think that’s what’s great." Maciej Siuda is a creator of the special module in the installation "The Polish Table".”
Technique of intarsia
This method has existed for hundreds of years of in carpentry and furniture making. In recent years it has become a bit of a forgotten method due to disappearing craft techniques. It consists mainly in working with veneer, that is very thin wood and arranging it in various interesting compositions.
Tradition of Polish design
The Institute of Industrial Design was one of the first institutions promoting design in post-war Europe. It was established in 1950, earlier than the famous Parisian Institute of Industrial Aesthetics of Jacques Vienot. The Institute's founder and, until 1968, artistic director was Professor Wanda Telakowska.
Beech
It is widely used for furniture framing and carcase construction, flooring and engineering purposes, in plywood and in household items like plates, but rarely as a decorative wood. The timber can be used to build chalets, houses, and log cabins. In western and southern Poland, beech is one of the basic trees that make up forests.
“Species used in these modules are telling individual and political stories: about the species migration of trees, about unjustified logging in Polish nature reserves, or the disappearing craft techniques.”
Stories from the Polish Table — Wood
Maple, bird cherry, black walnut, rosewood and other 18 species used in these modules are telling individual and political stories: about the species migration of trees, about unjustified logging in Polish nature reserves, or the disappearing craft techniques. – Maciej Siuda.
Video by ASF Studio
Steel
Powerful collage
The special module is a collage inspired by the nature and specificity of our production. The yacht has to face the element of water, and its production is like taming the other elements. Steel, aluminum, wood, stone and thousands of components from around the world.
Craftsmanship
Every year, Poland manufactures about 22,000 yachts — 95% of which are exported. In 2019, the Polish Viatoris Yacht won an Oscar in its category — the World Superyacht Awards. The process of building a yacht from the idea to the finished vessel takes practically three years.
CHAIRMAN & CEO OF CONRAD SHIPYARD
Mikołaj Król
"We are proud of our participation in Expo and our advanced and luxurious yachts. For us, participation in the Expo is also a presentation of the heritage and culture of our region and Gdańsk city, as well as its maritime and shipbuilding legacy."
“When we look at a finished yacht, we see a beautiful sculpture, but when we remove this plane, we see exactly what we see in our module.”
Stories from the Polish Table — Steel
Our special module presents a palette of the main materials we use, but also shows them in various stages of their processing, from their raw form to the final luxury product. — Mikołaj Król, Chairman & CEO of Conrad Shipyard.
Video by ASF Studio
Aluminum
“We are bringing industry and hard technology to work, in order to provide a certain value that is important for all of us. It is related to sustainable development. And this is what the whole Polish Table is really about.“
Aluminum
PIAP Space created module by using the 3D printing technique in the lattice structure of the aluminium alloy. Aluminium alloys are widely used in the space industry. However, Metal 3D printing is only just beginning to be used in space solutions. The attractiveness of this technology is due to the possibility of creating structures that combine lightness and durability, which cannot be overestimated in space.
Robotics solutions for space
PIAP Space operates in two areas. One is related to space robotics, and the other is MGSA which is the technological instrumentation needed for satellite integration testing. The mission of PIAP Space is to make Space and Earth cleaner, safer, and sustainable, by designing, engineering, and delivering top-quality robotic solutions.
How does Earth look from space?
BIOMASS Mission is an Earth observing satellite planned for launch by the European Space Agency (ESA) in August 2023. The mission will provide the first comprehensive measurements of global forest biomass. The mission is meant to last for five years, monitoring at least eight growth cycles in the worlds’ forests. Aluminium used in The Polish Table refers to the test adapters that are used in this mission. These special aircraft aluminum is both extremely lightweight and durable.
Stories from the Polish Table — Aluminium
We try to tell the story about the balance between humans and nature.
Video by ASF Studio.
