Paweł Althamer’s “Paradise” will bloom again!

 

For 17 years, the installation has been constantly evolving, changing along with the surrounding nature, and each season gives it a new character. The upcoming planting event is a perfect opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the neighborhood and become part of this living work of art. From the very beginning, the project has been guided by the idea that art can be a collective endeavor, and that every person has a real impact on shaping the reality around them.

“Paradise” was created in 2009 as one of the first installations of the Bródno Sculpture Park, initiated by Paweł Althamer in collaboration with the Targówek District Office and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. This unusual garden sculpture was created based on children’s imaginings of Eden, which he translated into a real botanical composition. Since then, the garden has been constantly evolving, with each season giving it a new character.

As part of this year’s work, the garden will be enriched with new trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, and bulb plants. One of the project’s main features will be the “Gateway to Paradise”—a rose-lined passageway that will connect the existing rose garden with a new, more natural section of the garden.

In front of the gate, additional rose varieties in a variety of colors will be planted, including “Pomponella,” “Aspirin Rose,” and “New Dawn.” They will be accompanied by mountain pine, grasses, alyssum, lavender, and sage—which attract pollinating insects—as well as bulbous plants, including crocuses, daffodils, and ornamental garlic, which will ensure blooms at various times throughout the season.

Just beyond the gate, among the trees, you’ll find wood sorrel, as well as geraniums and other plants well-suited to partial shade and shade. The composition will be complemented by ornamental shrubs such as white dogwood, bladdernut, and Podolian wig tree, as well as new trees—Judas trees. The birch alley will be replenished 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 feature, however, will remain open, preserving the view of the fountain located there.

Community planting is more than just gardening. Paweł Althamer wants to show participants that creativity doesn’t have to be limited to the artist’s studio. Planting a plant is a simple act whose effects can be seen for many years. It’s an opportunity to have a real impact on the space around us.

Direct contact with nature is also an important element of the project. Working with the earth 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, a sensitivity to nature, and the pleasure of being surrounded by greenery.

“Paradise” is not merely a work of art meant to be viewed. It is a place to which one can return, observe the growth of the planted plants, relax, and enjoy the closeness of nature.

As Krzysztof Miszewski, Mayor of the Targówek District, says: “For years, the Sculpture Park in Bródno has shown that art can go beyond the walls of galleries and become part of residents’ everyday lives. At its core, the park was created not only to showcase unique works of art in an open space but, above all, to foster connections between people, their immediate surroundings, and nature. Paweł Althamer’s ‘Paradise’ is a prime example of this. It is a place where nature, art, local history, and residents come together. “Paradise” references both the symbolic vision of Eden and the memory of the community gardens that were part of this place for many years. Today, we can work together to write its next chapters, developing a space that lives, changes, and matures alongside 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 have to be an artist or an experienced gardener to become part of “Paradise.” Students from the school where Paweł Althamer graduated will also take part in the planting. Together, we can create something that will grow and bring joy to future generations of visitors to Bródno Park.

When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: “Paradise” installation, Bródno Park
Who: Free admission for everyone