Water Birds

The bronze sculpture “Waterfowl” by the Gdańsk artist Sławoj Ostrowski was created in 2008 and is located in the square by Grunwaldzka Avenue. The sculptural group is part of a fountain.

Object: The bronze sculpture Water Birds by Gdańsk artist Sławoj Ostrowski was created in 2008. It consists of a group of five birds of an indeterminate species, with slender silhouettes reminiscent of herons, cranes, or even flamingos. The figures were cast in bronze, their texture rough and irregular, with a fragile and delicate form evoking comparisons to the expressionist sculptures of Alberto Giacometti. Each of the pale green birds assumes a different pose: three have their necks extended upward with beaks held high, while two bend their necks to look downward, each facing a different direction.

The figures are placed in the eastern section of the fountain basin located along Grunwaldzka Avenue. The birds appear to ‘wade’ in the water that washes around their feet. The fountain itself, completed in 2007, is elongated in shape with a basin lined with dark grey granite. Along its length are sandstone benches integrated into the fountain’s edge. The fountain jets water up to 1.5 metres high and is illuminated with lighting synchronised with the water streams.

Location: The Water Birds sculpture and the Grunwaldzka Fountain are situated in the northeastern part of the square between Grunwaldzka Avenue and Partyzantów Street, at 118 Grunwaldzka Avenue, within De Gaulle’s Park.

De Gaulle’s Park is one of Gdańsk’s richest parks in terms of dendrological diversity. Covering just under one hectare, it features over 20 species of trees, including monumental specimens dating back to the late 19th century. At that time, the current park area was a private garden located behind properties along the present-day De Gaulle Street.

Trees found in the park include ash, oak (including red-leaf varieties), beech, and old chestnuts forming an avenue. Other species include maples, lindens, and various poplars. Among the conifers, a striking black pine and a larch stand out. A significant group of plane trees grows along Partyzantów Street.

Relative to its size, De Gaulle’s Park is one of the best-equipped public parks in the city. Despite its compact area, it features two designated playgrounds for children, a large sandbox, an outdoor gym, and an asphalt basketball court. Additional amenities include park lighting, benches, and waste bins. Asphalt walking paths and decorative walls date back to a 1977 revitalization following World War II.

Information about the author: Sławoj Ostrowski (b. 14 December 1943 in Słupca, d. 9 March 2018) was a sculptor and pedagogue. Between 1963 and 1969, he studied at the State School of Visual Arts in Gdańsk at the Faculty of Sculpture. He was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk and headed the Sculpture Studio. He received a professorship in 1996. Ostrowski is the author of numerous works in public space: statues, sculptures, memorial plaques, commemorating such figures as Zbyszek Cybulski, Zbigniew Herbert, Antoni Abraham, Jakub Wejher or Günter Grass. He mostly worked with polychromed wood, stone and bronze and took part in many exhibitions in Poland and abroad. He was the winner of multiple sculpture competitions.

Condition of the object: good

Owner/guardian:  Gdańskie Wody

Author of the entry: Anna Szynwelska