In the Light of Recent History sculpture project, designed by Edyta Barańska at the Supreme Court in Warsaw, has introduced a symbolic expression of Poland’s 20 years in the European Union using architectural glass. Completed in 2024, the work evokes a flag caught in motion and embeds a female figure into the composition, referencing justice and institutional memory. The sculpture’s transparency and interaction with light allow it to transform visually throughout the day, reinforcing its conceptual basis. Developed through a competitive selection, the project overcame technical and material challenges related to scale, fragility, and weight. Barańska’s design translates kinetic observation into spatial form, integrating public art into a civic setting. Installed near the court’s main window, the work becomes a permanent gesture of national and European identity within a judicial space.
A sculptural installation by Edyta Barańska now stands in the lobby of the Supreme Court in Warsaw, marking the twentieth anniversary of Poland’s accession to the European Union. The piece, titled In the Light of Recent History, was completed in 2024 and evokes the image of a flag suspended in motion. Made entirely from glass, the work transforms a rigid medium into a symbolic and spatial expression of national identity and European values within the architectural setting of the judiciary.
Glass in architecture imparts lightness, space, and depth. Buildings that are glazed reflect their surroundings, yet also blend into them. This reflective quality not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the structure but also creates a harmonious relationship with the environment.
Interview with Edyta Barańska of Baranska Design
The commission originated from a closed competition organized by the Supreme Court. Five artists working in glass were invited to submit proposals, and Barańska’s concept was selected. Known for her large-scale glass works in hospitality and private architecture, she approached the commission intending to simulate lightness and fluidity. “It is difficult to create something airy from a material that is so hard. That’s why I was searching for a texture and form symbolically referencing a waving fabric. I photographed cloth moving in the wind and sketched its natural flow. I also knew that the entire piece had to remain within a certain weight limit, so I had to find a solution that would allow me to create a three-dimensional form while keeping it ‘light,’” she explained.
The sculpture includes more than a formal abstraction of fabric. Barańska introduced a female figure into the glass, not through surface carving, but through negative space and alignment with the building’s architecture. The figure becomes visible only through perspective and natural lighting. “The location itself dictated the theme—court, justice, and providence, which has a feminine aspect. As I searched for a way to connect these two elements, I realized that space can also function as a spatial form. I decided to use the Supreme Court’s majestic building as a background. I embedded a female figure into the symbolic glass flag, ‘drawn’ by the space and architectural surroundings,” she said. “Glass has this wonderful quality of being transparent and playing beautifully with light. The sculpture stands in front of a large window, which makes it look different by day and night,” she added.
Fabricating and installing the work involved significant technical and logistical demands. The scale of the panels, their fragility, and the need for custom mounting required precise coordination. Barańska worked with a trusted team of specialists to resolve structural and transport challenges. “Once the design was approved, the realization process was quite complex due to the large size of the glass panels, the need to develop a secure mounting system, and a custom base. Fortunately, I am surrounded by amazing people—my employees and subcontractors, with whom I have worked for years and whom I can always rely on in moments of total mobilization,” she recalled. “I was most concerned about transportation and installation. Luckily, everything arrived safely, and the installation team completed the work in just one day.”
Edyta Barańska is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław and founder of Barańska Design. Her work includes chandeliers, fountains, and architectural installations in international settings such as the Hilton, Sheraton, and Marriott, as well as private residences from New York to Dubai. This installation extends her practice into civic space, using transparency and formal abstraction to anchor themes of justice, national memory, and European unity in the built environment of the Supreme Court.
In the Light of Recent History now stands as a permanent installation at the entrance of the Supreme Court, embedding a reflective narrative into the architecture of one of Poland’s most significant judicial institutions.
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