Creativity inspired by nature: The Polish Pavilion at World Expo 2020
Polish Investment and Trade Agency
How can you tell the story of Poland’s national spirit with experience design? The Pavilion's centrepiece, the 'Polish Table', was an interactive art installation inviting guests to discover both how the natural world inspires design and how the Polish are known for their values around hospitality. This interactive sculpture, activated by voice, offered a communal space for multicultural greetings and explorations of Polish stories of land, nature, design and craftsmanship.
Tellart partnered with design studios Science Now and Stellar Fireworks to create the exhibition narrative, creative strategy, and key experiences of the Polish Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, a project led by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. The exhibition experience conveyed Poland's deep values about the power of nature and creativity, exploring two pillars: social ethos and the natural environment — a longstanding source of inspiration for generations of Poles — while also drawing a path towards a more resourceful and sustainable future.
Awarded Best Large Pavilion by Exhibitor Magazine, creativity played a central role in the design, substance and content of the Polish Pavilion. It was portrayed as a universal virtue that leads Polish artists, entrepreneurs, designers and scientists to create extraordinary projects, products and experiences. Contemporary Poland’s story was experienced through five narrative chapters – all distinct interpretations of Poland's creative spirit.
The Polish Table
The Polish Table
“Our lives revolve around this piece of furniture.” The table in Polish homes is a prized place and fittingly, the Polish Table was the first encounter on a journey that invites guests to experience the warmth of Polish hospitality and learn about the diversity and beauty of Polish nature, and its influence on Polish identity.
The installation was created from the raw materials characteristic of the country. The surface of the table, milled from Polish ash wood, consists of over 120 modules – sections that represent fragments of the topography of Poland. The fragments are based upon satellite data obtained from the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme, from the Łebska Spit to the Silesian agglomeration, and the Sandomierz land to the Morskie Oko lake. 1000 samples of Polish terrain, with its topography and vegetation, were analysed, clustered and sorted using different machine learning algorithms.
The table was enriched by having certain modules designed by Polish artists and entrepreneurs – ranging from ceramics and copper, to steel from the yachting industry, and glass or 3D printed aluminium used in space missions.
The interaction model of the installation was initiated by sounds that were gathered from greetings and
conversations happening at the table, which then lit up a LED structure within the table and the kinetic
installation above.
Architect and artist Oskar Zięta’s copper modules.
Wooden modules by architect and designer Maciej Siuda
Glass modules designed by designer Agnieszka Bar.
Ceramic module by Marta Małoszyc and Małgorzata Szwed from Zakłady Ceramiczne "Bolesławiec"
The Pavilion
The Pavilion's lead theme – ‘Poland: creativity inspired by nature’ – could be seen within the architecture of the Pavilion itself, which was designed by Warsaw-based architectural workshop WXCA and Swiss studio Bellprat Partner. Its open, wooden, modular structure expands upwards into a kinetic sculpture that resembles a flock of birds, symbolising the richness of Polish avifauna, and also serving as an universal notion of mobility – of people, ideas and natural resources.
Other experience design highlights include:
‘Poland. Inspired by nature’. The Pavilion’s waiting area was filled with flora, soundscapes, video stories, poetry and artistic illustrations, representing five characteristic landscapes of Poland, ranging from the Polish coast to primaeval forests and wetlands, mountains, meadows, and lakes.
‘Poland. Spirit of ingenuity’. This zone was dedicated to the modern achievements of Polish companies, entrepreneurs, scientists and artists. Here visitors found over 200 stories presenting internationally recognised products, brands and experiences presented in a choreographed video and motion graphics narration.
‘Poland. Landscapes of creativity’. The Polish Pavilion’s final experience featured large screen projections, a one-of-a-kind art installation composed from 50 pieces of mirror-polished steel and interactive, immersive scenarios that encourage visitor playfulness and collaboration (experiences ranging from the deep, primaeval forest of Bialowieza to space exploration to world-class mountaineering achievements).
“Our aim in the design of this exhibition was to convey Poland’s focus on ingenuity inspired by nature in ways that are personal, experiential, and memorable. The final effect resonates with optimism in the belief that together we can build a better tomorrow."
Tellart Production Director Jack Lenk.
Project Data
Highlights:
- The Pavilion received over one million visitors during Expo 2020 (held in 2021-22).
- Expo 2020 Dubai welcomed 24,102,967 guests from around the world in six months.
- The complete story and exhibition experiences were co-created by over 100 artists and creators, collaborating with over 200 Polish companies and scientific and cultural institutions.
- The thematically and visually diverse Polish Pavilion provided an original and distinctive platform for exciting storytelling about contemporary Poland.
Awarded:
- Awarded Best Large Pavilion in Exhibitor Magazine’s Expo 2020 competition
- Silver medal in the Dubai Official Participant Awards in the “Exhibition Design Self-built pavilions” category, organised by Bureau International des Expositions, the organisation responsible for selecting the host countries of the future Expo.
Selected Press:
Project team:
Project leadership: Polish Investment and Trade Agency
Pavilion architecture and thematic concept of the exhibition: WXCA & Bellprat studio
Creative concept and detailed narrative of the exhibition, key experiences, multimedia
production: Science Now, Stellar Fireworks, Tellart
"Poland@EXPO" visual identity and brand guidelines: Leniva Studio
General contractor of the Pavilion building: Poznań International Fairs, FM Aldentro
"Polish Table" interactive art installation: Science Now, Stellar Fireworks, Tellart, RAZ, Ejsak Group
"Landscapes of Creativity" immersive zone: Science Now, Stellar Fireworks, Tellart, Variable.io, Creative Planet
"Poland@EXPO" branded content campaign: ASF Studio
Photography: Thijs Wolzak
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