Praga’s Golden Island

Often bordering on controversial, the globally acclaimed artist Paweł Althamer has returned to the headlines after turning a concrete island gold…

Often hailed as one of Poland’s greatest living artists, Paweł Althamerhas breathed new life into a concrete island that, until recently, served as an open-air bear enclosure.

First built in 1952 to showcase the nearby zoo, for decades the moated pit was home to a trio of bears. Amid mounting concerns for its furry residents, it was finally closed in 2020 after a drunken man entered the pen and sustained minor injuries after attempting to befriend its inhabitants.

Lying empty ever since, City Hall had initially announced the island would be turned into a gastronomic facility. However, in August residents woke to find Althamer at work together with a crew of young volunteers clad in golden overalls.

According to the artist, by transforming the sad-looking pen into glimmering gold, a reference is made to the mental state of people living in big cities.

“People are overstimulated, they live in a constant rush,” says Althamer. “The antidote is an old animal enclosure where you can sit and read a book or meditate.”

With the artist himself taking up residence on the island for a couple of weeks, the project will include family picnics, book readings and art classes. Enabled by the zoo, the Zachęta Art Gallery and the Museum of Praga, the island can be seen in its current golden state until the end of September – thereafter, its future remains unclear.

THIS MONTH

Sept 9^th, 11 a.m.
Yoga with Cela and Martyna (register: rezerwacje@teatr21.pl)

Sept 10^th, 10 a.m.
Family walk around Praski Park (Polish-language). Tickets from: muzeumpragi.pl

Sept 11^th, 5 p.m.
Book reading (Polish-language). Register: info@zacheta.art.pl

Sept 12^th, 3.30 p.m.
Krzysztof Maniak photography workshop. Register: info@zacheta.art.pl   

September 15^th, noon
Stories of the island (Polish-language). Tickets from: muzeumpragi.pl

Sept 17^th, 4 p.m.
Tea on the island. Tickets: forms.office.com/e/iBFE2kEwVK

Sept 20^th, 5 p.m.
Dr. Dolittle theatre performance (Polish-language). Tickets: rezerwacje@teatr21.pl

Sept 22^nd, 5 p.m.
Art and nature walk (Polish-language).

Sept 23^rd, 3 p.m.
Debut of Rafał Wilk’s art installation. Tickets: info@zacheta.art.pl

Sept 24^th, noon
Art and nature walk plus meeting with Rafał Wilk. Tickets: info@zacheta.art.pl

Sept 25^th, 5 p.m.
Public reading meet-up. Tickets: info@zacheta.art.pl

Sept 29^th, 2 p.m.
Open-air sculpture workshop. Tickets: rezerwacje@teatr21.pl

Sept 30^th, noon
Stories and social history of the island (Polish-language). Tickets from: muzeumpragi.pl