The Landscapes exhibition is one of three – alongside exhibitions at the Labirynt Gallery in Lublin and BWA in Zielona Góra – presenting the creative attitudes of Ukrainian artists towards the Russian invasion.

The narrative of destruction and rebirth presented through selected artworks is reinforced by the use of preservative wood burning techniques in the display arrangement. Thanks to this, the motif of burning is shown not only as a destructive force, but also as a method of building the resistance of building materials and the resiliency of ecosystems.

Burning meadows or field edges – practiced by farmers in the spring – can clear the area of plant debris. The addition of ash fertilizes the soil and stimulates the growth of young grass. While the technique of preserving wood by burning it, present worldwide in many cultures, protects it from moisture, insects and fire (traditionally in Poland, fences and farm buildings were burned due to the lack of access to chemical preservatives).

Perceiving destruction also as potential for renewal, the exhibition architecture is composed of burnt beams and wooden planks. Complemented by panel surfaces, the display structures create a narrative backdrop for the works of art presented both inside the designed structures and on the gallery walls. Simple volumetric arrangement of the burnt wood guarantees that the exhibition design, although expressive, does not overwhelm the works on display. What is more, the spatial arrangement interestingly complements the difficult space of the BWA gallery, which is divided by numerous columns.