Alicja Patanowska, a talented Polish artist, has unveiled her latest installation, PLANTATION, at the Urban Farmer Project in London’s Fleet Street Quarter. This initiative seeks to combat food waste and promote sustainable food production in the heart of the city’s business district.
The project’s first artwork aligns perfectly with its mission to raise awareness about environmental sustainability and the importance of plant care.
PLANTATION features handmade porcelain elements designed to grow plants, herbs, and vegetables through hydroponic systems. It also includes repurposed drinking glasses—from pint glasses to champagne flutes—collected from London streets and Patanowska’s hometown in Poland. The discarded glasses, which first inspired the artist a decade ago, serve as a powerful symbol of waste and transformation.
visitors watch, the installation will evolve over time, showcasing the growth of plants in the 200 vessels that form part of a dynamic, live artwork.
This immersive installation is open to the public until December 12, 2024, and is part of Patanowska’s ongoing exploration of waste, luxury, and environmental consciousness.
Her previous presentations of PLANTATION have been featured in prominent locations, including the Museum of the Future in Dubai and the National Museum in Krakow.
In reflecting on her involvement with the project, Patanowska emphasized the importance of creating eco-conscious communities and expanding green spaces within urban environments. “Caring for nature and achieving a balanced life are essential as we face the climate crisis,” she stated.
The Urban Farmer Project aims to create a marketplace and educational space, tackling food poverty while supporting sustainable agriculture. Through the installation, Patanowska and the project team hope to inspire others to consider sustainability in both art and daily life, contributing to a climate-resilient future.
Alicja Patanowska’s PLANTATION is a brilliant fusion of art, sustainability, and social impact. It’s refreshing to see how art can be a powerful tool in raising awareness and creating solutions to environmental issues.
By repurposing discarded items and involving the community in the growth process, the installation highlights how small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference. This is the kind of creativity the world needs to address the climate crisis.