“… gay science is so powerful.”
Water and light come together to create a large rainbow installation in the middle of Poland, just in time for Warsaw Pride, three years after the original sculpture was permanently dismantled.
In 2010, Julita Wójcki created the first Tęcza, or The Rainbow. The sculpture was created by decorating a large arch with artificial flowers to make it look like a big rainbow. It was originally placed outside of a monastery to represent the presence of God, the bridge of love, peace, mercy and freedom for sexual minorities. The sculpture was part of a series where others were erected outside of the European Parliament and in Wigry, Poland.
In 2012, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute helped to install another Tęcza in Saviour Square, in Warsaw. The structure was vandalized and destroyed various times by anti-LGBT groups. The Polish media generated significant media coverage around the sculpture, usually to discuss LGBT+ rights in Poland.
The structure was burned numerous times after riots in 2012, 2013 and 2014 before it was permanently dismantled in 2015.
Right-wing protesters and even some parliament members embraced the destruction of the rainbow. A video of the sculpture burning went viral on YouTube. One nationalist could be seen attempting to light a cigarette in the flames. Bartosz Kownacki, a member of Polish Parliament, commented “The faggot rainbow is burning” on Facebook.
Now the Tęcza stands at the same site where the previous stood, but it is formed using science. Water vapour is emitted and light bounces off of it allowing a holographic rainbow to be seen.
The monument was organised with help from the Love Does Not Exclude Association.
Ola Muzinska, association chairperson, said, “This rainbow signifies the start of a wider campaign to raise awareness of LGBT rights and in particular the fight for marriage equality in Poland” in an interview with The Telegraph.
The rainbow received huge support from Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook users.
https://twitter.com/daddypauIson/status/1005232427416072193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It premiered the night before Warsaw Pride, signifying the start of pride month and perhaps, a change in Polish views on LGBT+ rights.
© 2018 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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