„Don’t cage your wilderness“ is a special installation and AR animation by the young Polish artist Monika Bielenis from Krakow, Poland, which explores the boundaries between the natural and the artificial, the digital and the real. At the center of the installation is a sculpture made of floral elements that spreads out in space and invites exploration.

A QR code, which is part of the installation, leads visitors to an augmented reality animation that can be viewed on a smartphone. In this animation, the plant parts change, move and change their shape and color, giving them a kind of liveliness.

Monika Bielenis’ work deliberately plays with contrasts. She creates an interface between the artificial and the natural as well as the digital and the physical, questioning our perception of these worlds. Through the use of modern technologies such as augmented reality, new forms of interaction and viewing are made possible, inviting the audience to engage in an unusual, transformative experience.

Monika Bielenis, born in Goleniów, now lives in Krakow and has a degree in photography. She is currently studying at the Faculty of Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.

The exhibition is part of this year’s POLENMARKT festival.

Exhibition duration: October 26 – December 1, 2024

Photos: M. Schramm

Text: M. Fialek