We Are the Weather

The central motif of this piece is water, which is a symbolic life source and a metaphor for interspecies interdependence.

The installation consists of three complementary elements that create a narrative about the need for cooperation and solidarity in the face of global climate challenges. The fountains tell the story of climate change from the perspective of water: the cobalt’ water catchers’ remind us that water is a priceless resource that needs to be cherished, shared and protected collectively, while the composition of ceramic tiles forms a visual story about its limited availability.

The work encourages reflection on our interdependence, solidarity and cooperation – critical values in pursuing a safe and sustainable future.

The installation’s title was borrowed from Jonathan Safran Foer’s book “We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast” (2019).

The installation was showcased as part of the International Cultural Programme of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2025 organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

Curator: Aleksandra Kędziorek

Title: We Are the Weather
Year: 2025
Material: clay, water
Technique: mixed

“The choice of water as a theme was a conscious one for me – it is an element that literally permeates and connects all species, including humans. It is both a natural and political phenomenon, as well as a democratic hyperobject and a source of life. We Are the Weather primarily speaks about the need for solidarity. It serves as a reminder of the necessity to care for and protect all living beings. At this moment, the installation exists in a space dominated by anthropocentric narratives, and its essence is to emphasize interspecies interdependence and the need for cooperation in the face of the climate crisis. The materials used also hold significance – the clay from which the objects are made is part of the soil, and soil is the foundation of life for all organisms. Clay itself only becomes plastic when in contact with water, which becomes a metaphor for processes of transformation and interdependence.”

Alicja Patanowska in conversation with Kama Wróbel for Format Magazine

Photo: Jakub Celej, Courtesy of IAM & Marek Swoboda, Courtesy of IAM

Proces of creation

Photo: Jakub Celej, Courtesy of IAM