Object Location
The Axis Mundi project dates back to September 2022. It was created as part of the “Subject: River” project during the cyclical Festival of Borderland Cultures in Włodawa, Poland, in solidarity with Ukraine fighting for its independence. It is situated near the Bug River, close to the border with Ukraine.
The red pin on the map fragment shows the exact location of the object:
51° 32′ 37.59″ N, 23° 33′ 34.53″ E
Perebor as Cultural Binder
The central element of the Axis Mundi project is a creatively transposed traditional weaving ornament – perebor, which was characteristic of folk costumes from areas on both sides of the Bug River, in both Poland and Ukraine.
Following World War II, when a border was drawn along this river, this shared cultural element was divided, which also symbolically separated the communities.
Axis Mundi is an artistic initiative aimed at emphasizing and rebuilding intercultural ties that were severed due to historical events.
Axis Mundi Disrupted
Drawing its name from the axis mundi — the cosmic axis that anchors the universe — the Axis Mundi project features asymmetrically arranged rectangular forms adorned with the traditional perebor pattern. The base block, serving as a pillar and structural foundation, represents the grounding needed to maintain worldly balance. Resting upon it is a second block radiating light from within, symbolizing hope and global unity.
The intentional asymmetry of these forms mirrors the disrupted equilibrium of our contemporary world, shaken by the war in Ukraine.
Peace Symmetry
The light serves as a sign of solidarity with the victims of war. According to beliefs surrounding the axis mundi, time stands still, allowing for a complete connection with both the past and the future. The perebor, appearing as perforations on the walls of the blocks, becomes a symbol of pause, reflection, and presence in the “here and now.”
Here, the perebor becomes a plea for peace and the restoration of global balance. Only then will the forms be able to return to their original, symmetrical alignment with one another.
Symbol of Memory
The Axis Mundi engages in a permanent dialogue with the landscape along the Bug River. The changing seasons reveal its endurance — a rigorous form of installation confronting nature, which permanently embeds itself into the memory of this place as a material point of reference.
A specially designated cycling route facilitates the transition from visual contemplation to physical experience, making the Axis Mundi one of the stops along the Bug River trail. This path allows visitors to immerse themselves in the landscape, finding space for reflection and presence in the “here and now” through movement, amidst the murmur of the river and the history hidden within the perebor.