Willow (2024) is a painting installation created for a solo show Powroty / Comebacks (2024) organized by Galeria Wschód in Echo Cologne.

Karolina Bielawska
Powroty / Comebacks

ECHO Cologne
16.02 – 23.03.2024
organized by Galeria Wschód

One night in the Polish region Mazury, the artist’s homeland, a storm broke two willows that had been growing close to her family home since her childhood days.

After that, whenever she visited the spot, she felt pain, similar to the kind caused by harm or loss. However, as time passed, the willows started to grow back and the pollarded stumps slowly blanketed with longitudinal shags of branches and leaves. Observing this gradual rebirth elicited an unexpected mixture of feelings: yearning, euphoria, regret, relief.

It turns out that due to its unique ability to regenerate, the willow was perceived, in Slavic mythology, as a symbol of vital forces, fertility, and life reborn. Then according to folk tradition, a belief prevailed that a hollow willow is dwelled by the devil himself.

A willow can grow in tough terrain, especially wetlands, which makes it a natural barrier against excess water. Her thick, hanging shoots resemble loose hair.