Edyta Barańska, a globally recognized glass designer and founder of Barańska Design was commissioned to design a sculptural tribute to commemorate Poland’s 20 Years in the European Union.
The sculpture, made from glass, evokes the image of a billowing flag. As light touches its surface, it appears to ripple like fabric in the wind. Capturing the fluidity of fabric in a material as rigid as glass required a unique approach. To achieve this, Barańska studied the movement of cloth in the wind, photographing and sketching its natural flow to create a dynamic yet weight-conscious form.
“It’s difficult to create the illusion of airiness in such a solid medium. I needed a texture and shape that symbolically echoed a waving flag while remaining structurally sound,” she explains.
Beyond its tribute to the EU, the sculpture carries profound meaning. Installed in the Supreme Court—a place where justice is served—it needed to reflect themes of law, wisdom, and providence. This inspired Barańska to embed a hidden female figure within the glass, her silhouette formed by the interplay of space and architecture.
“The court’s role naturally led me to the concept of justice, which is often personified as a woman. I realized that empty space could also serve as a form, allowing the Supreme Court’s grand architecture to ‘draw’ her figure within the glass,” she describes.
The sculpture’s transparency and interaction with light make it an ever-changing piece. Positioned before a large window, it shifts in appearance from day to night, playing with its surroundings in a mesmerizing way.
