The exhibition concept developed by an interdisciplinary team in the Poland Pavilion consists of interactive artistic installations representing the “creativity gene” inscribed into Polish identity. The place’s climate is created by the combination of nature, tradition, science, and technology. Its driving force are the Visitors, who both experience and co-create the exhibition.
The curatorial team responsible for the exhibition concept includes Monika Brauntsch – KAFTI, Ewa Kierklo and Stanisław Kempa – GDYBY and Wiesław Bartkowski.
KAFTI
GDYBY
Gdyby is a design studio created by architects Ewa Kierklo and Stanisław Kempa. Their activities are mainly based in the culture, art and museum sectors. They create exhibitions, installations and other mediums of storytelling, with a particular focus on experience design and interactive narratives. Directing the viewer’s impressions and bringing out the symbolic and emotional layers is key for them. Gdyby has completed projects in cooperation with many recognised cultural institutions both in Poland and abroad.
Complex systems researcher and interaction designer, employee of the University of Warsaw who researches, among other things, how to develop AI to avoid degrading human cognitive abilities. Author of the concept and manifesto “Matter of Code”, which guides his work in the field of art, exploring the emergent properties resulting from the combination of physical and digital matter. Finalist in the exhibition competition for the Polish Pavilion for the International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Fellow of the Centre for Systemic Risk Analysis and the think tank Re-Imagine Europa.
The installation is based on parametric plants, which introduce the visitors to the healing world associated with herbs. The plants are created based on an algorithm, which based on the selection of available parameters, allows each of the visitors to compose an individual plant – “Spirit Plant”. The images created in this way will be displayed on semi-transparent screens, constituting an element of the scenography while providing a wonderful visual experience. They will introduce an evanescent, magical climate referring to ancient rituals and beliefs related to herbs. The installation engages visitors – they become coauthors and the plant remains as a souvenir – visitors can download it on the phone and share on social media.
An animated herbarium presents the tradition of Polish herbalism through contemporary illustration and refers to the history of the Polish school of illustration. The herbarium is inspired by the Polish and Japanese convergent tradition of “Seven Herbs Soup”, which was cooked in the early spring and was meant to deliver vital nutrients to the body. A similar tradition, although based on different ingredients, is cultivated in Japan. The installation presents plants which contain substances with remedial, taste and flavour, to which magical powers have been attributed for ages. Some beliefs were confirmed by science, which with time, precisely described their operation.
The installation is a symbolic representation of the variability of Polish nature and an unprecedented combination of biological knowledge and artistic expression. Polish plants closed in resin spheres are captured in an evanescent moment of transformation. Ephemeral forms immersed in transparent spheres, difficult to observe in the hustle and bustle of life, tell the story of life’s constant transformation. The installation is of a viral nature, encouraging people to share content on social media.
“The Most Polish Landscape” installation uses the method of artificial intelligence to bring visitors closer to the essence of the Polish landscape and show its diversity. The landscapes of Poland generated by AI on a panoramic screen evolve and change under the influence of visitor traffic. Individuals and groups of visitors moving across the screen determine the features of the displayed content. It smoothly changes, builds and transforms through poetic sequences of movements. The installation “trained” on thousands of pictures from various regions of Poland is capable of creating new, non-existent landscapes that are the ideal representation of the Polish nature of the landscape.
The Cloud refers to folk ornaments known as “pająki” (spiders), characteristic of the handicraft traditions of many regions of Poland. These were created through collective effort during festive periods to bring good fortune to the household and protect the home from evil. The colorful folk form became the inspiration for creating this spatial installation. Integrated with the Pavilion’s windows, the Cloud offers an intriguing view from the outside and fulfills a similar purpose as originally intended – serving as a unique decoration.
A multisensory immersive installation inspired by the visual form of the graduation tower, the properties of wood, as well as social and communal nature of caring for health and well-being. Combining an exceptional experience with elements of immersion – light and sound effects, contemplation and meditation – it engages the senses and promotes relaxation.
A unique instrument combining traditional craftsmanship and natural materials with modern digital technology from which an outstanding composer and instrumentalist Jerzy Rogiewicz will extract the essence of Fryderyk Chopin’s compositions, inspired by folk music and sounds from nature. “Aura” consists of more than a hundred independent modules, one can say that it is a digitally controlled “orchestra”, organically extracting sounds from natural materials. The heart of each “instrument” will be a fragment of willow associated with Chopin and obtained from the area of Żelazowa Wola. Thanks to the usage of artificial intelligence methods, the viewers will be able to subtly influence the movement of “Aura” becoming co-creators of the show.
The dynamic gallery combines parametric plants “Spirit Plant” and constitutes an individual trace of each person who visited the Poland Pavilion during the six months of the Expo. The projections symbolise the combination of tradition and past, as well as set perfect experiences into a collective, solidarity-based creation. It is also a form of gratitude for everyone who visited the Poland Pavilion. The installation emphasises the creative potential of Poles in the area of new technologies.
Poetic form inspired by Haiku, and lyrical miniatures by young Polish poets are commentary on the content presented in the Pavilion. The verses, written on the walls in various places in the Pavilion, constitute an inspiring form of dialogue with the exhibition. At the entrance to the concert hall, printed cards with poetry will fill an entire wall.
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The Plantation of Ideas is a section within the Poland Pavilion that highlights groundbreaking ideas and innovations shaping a sustainable future across six key sectors for the Japanese market. It is a venue for showcasing the Polish economy, business, and science, featuring both traditional and nature-inspired solutions, as well as inventions that utilise modern technologies and advanced algorithms. They are the ones driving innovation in each industry, highlighting new potential, promoting sustainable practices, and striving for healthier societies. Their common denominator is the Polish ” gene of creativity”. The solutions developed by the companies draw on both the patterns of nature and the power of technology, the latest discoveries and scientific knowledge. They enable people to live healthier, safer, and more peaceful lives, allowing them to shape their surroundings in ways that were not possible for earlier generations.
The zone inspired by concerts in the Royal Łazienki in Warsaw is located in front of the Poland Pavilion. It is based on the presentation of recordings of Fryderyk Chopin available on wireless headphones, allowing immersion in the phenomenon of the composer’s music. The zone is being created in cooperation with the Fryderyk Chopin National Institute.
Poland Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka was honored with one of the most prestigious awards granted by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). During the ceremonial BIE Day, held on October 12, 2025, on the Shining Hat stage on Yumeshima Island in Osaka, Poland received the BIE Gold Award for its exhibition design in the category “Self-Built Pavilions, Type A.”
The award recognizes the efforts of many individuals who worked to create a space where art, technology, science, and emotions converge. The BIE jury appreciated not only the cohesive and engaging visitor journey but also the originality of the exhibition and the significance of the message conveyed by the Poland Pavilion’s motto: “Poland. Heritage that drives the future.”
As the creators of the concept explain: “The installations, developed in collaboration with artists, create a unique space where heritage blends with the future, and tradition intersects with innovation. Our concept is based on an authentic and living part of Polish heritage – herbs. Through the subtle integration of contemporary technology, traditions and craftsmanship gain a ‘magical’ dimension, while the driving force of the exhibition becomes the visitors themselves, who not only observe but actively co-create the Pavilion’s space. Guests can genuinely experience our message without feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated.”
The visitor journey captivated Expo guests every day for six months, unfolding a beautiful story about Poland.
Poland was honored with two prestigious awards: a Bronze in the category “Best Medium Pavilion” and a Silver in the category “Best Exhibition / Display” for the installation “Plantation of Ideas.”
