Great Exhibition of Bees
The Great Exhibition of Bees was inaugurated in Switzerland on October 27, 2024, in the lovely town of Rapperswil on Lake Zurich.
The event partner is the Polish-Swiss Institute of Culture and Education.
Artists’ works
The work of bee patrons
This is the second edition of the exhibition aimed at raising awareness about biodiversity and the crucial role bees play in our ecosystem. It is also a tribute to art and craftsmanship. Inviting environmentally responsible brands to the project is a step toward creating products in harmony with nature and human craftsmanship.
During this year’s Great Exhibition of Bees, as many as 107 artists presented their unique visions of bees, highlighting their importance and encouraging a deeper connection with nature. The premiere of the Great Exhibition of Bees took place in Warsaw in 2023 and lasted for six months.
This year, due to my move to Switzerland, I wanted to showcase all the works here as well, which was made possible thanks to Gosia and Ewelina, founders of the Polish-Swiss Institute of Culture and Education, along with the Polish Embassy in Switzerland.
At the exhibition’s opening, we were able to admire works by artists, artisans, and environmentally responsible brands. Each piece, through functional art and design, drew attention to the fundamental role bees play in our ecosystem.
This year, 20 responsible brands have already joined the entire initiative Together for Bees.
During the event, I had the pleasure of giving a mini-lecture on the role of wild bees in maintaining ecological balance. I talked about how the destruction of bee populations leads to the disappearance of plants and disruption of ecosystems, which affects us all. Every species is a piece of the puzzle that allows nature and ecosystems to function in harmony.
To mark Education Day, I was also able to organize workshops for children and parents. It was a wonderful opportunity for young people to understand biodiversity and the importance of ecological connections. I explained how many species of wild bees exist in our ecosystem—approximately 470 species have been observed in Poland alone, around 600 in Switzerland, and worldwide, there are about 20,000 species. I described how different they are from the well-known honeybee, where they inhabit, and how we can support them.
I am immensely proud that in 2024, the Great Exhibition of Bees includes works by 107 artists, with the number still growing as I will soon present new pieces that will enrich the exhibition. Among the artists featured in the Grand Exhibition of Bees are the remarkable works of Aleksandra Waliszewska, Pola Dwurnik, Magdalena Pankiewicz, Wiktor Stribog, Joanna Sarapata, Bartek Kielbowicz, Małgosia Rusiecka, Joanna Czajkowska, and many, many other exceptional artists.
Painting by Joanna Sarapata
On this day, we had the opportunity to premiere a painting by Joanna Sarapata, who joined in supporting my initiative to care for biodiversity.
The painting made a huge impression on the guests. Joanna Sarapata’s painting for the Great Exhibition of Bees will be showcased in the upcoming editions of the exhibition. Stay tuned!
Craft
Several new environmentally responsible brands and creators have joined the ranks of bee patrons. At the Great Exhibition of Bees, alongside porcelain from Ćmielów, there is also porcelain by Stanisław Brach, created in collaboration with the Ćmielów Porcelain Factory.
Beautiful ceramic plates featuring a bee illustration by Neszka Szatkowska were crafted by Justyna Skowyrska. Totem Warsaw Studio presented a unique totem in bee-inspired colors. Artist Monika Kreft created miniature sculptures of an apple and a pear and, through her brand Sameplusy, an original jewelry set. Artist Karolina Brzozowska hand-crafted an extraordinary imitation of a wild bee, the “Makateczka komonicówka.” The duo Siostry Plotą crafted a basket with the beautiful name “Serafina” for this occasion. The handbag brand By Hungry Hearts joined the initiative with a “Honey Bee” bag. Julia Kutra designed charming gift boxes filled with bee- and flower-shaped charms made from recycled materials. The cosmetics brand Soap for Globe supported the initiative with their Planeta solid shampoo. Also featured are unique jacquard products by the brand Szmat Skład, handmade gloves from Lawina, and a hand-knit hat by Wool in Full. A beautiful lingerie set by My Unds is also a new addition. All of the bee patron products can be seen here.
On this day, we celebrated Education Day together, and I had the opportunity to listen to many wonderful experts. Professor Przemysław Gębal, Ph.D., gave a mini-lecture titled ‘Polish as a Heritage and Inherited Language as a Potential Language of Personal Choice: Benefits of Multilingual Upbringing and Development in the Swiss-Polish Context.’ Following the lecture, workshops for educators were also led by the professor.
During the workshops I had the great pleasure of conducting for children and parents, each participant received an educational booklet provided by the brand Yope in collaboration with the Łąka Foundation. This educational booklet on wild bees, biodiversity, and planting flower meadows is available for free download here.
The Great Exhibition of Bees is a perfect example of how art, responsible production, and ecological education can foster environmental awareness. It is a step towards protecting wildlife and preserving invaluable species.
I hope this inspires you to care more for our planet and to take action to protect bees and biodiversity.
Thank you for being with me on this important mission!
Diana
I invite you to view the photo gallery from the event.
fot. Marysia Nowrot
fot. Kinga Zgirska
fot. Kinga Zgirska
fot. Marysia Nowrot
fot. Kinga Zgirska
fot. Marysia Nowrot
Heartfelt thanks to the Ćmielów Porcelain Factory for gifting beautiful cups to the guests of the Great Exhibition of Bees.
Thank you to Ms. Joanna Laprus from Świat Książki Publishing for gifting the stunning books Slavic Goddesses of Whispers as gifts for the guests of the Great Exhibition of Bees.
Guests also had the opportunity to explore issues of Poland’s top interior design magazine, Czas na Wnętrze, provided by the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Ms. Anna Grużewska. Many thanks.
Agnes from Agnes Culinary Craft took wonderful care of our guests’ palates.
Join me, and together let’s support biodiversity and wild bees.
All funds received from the bee patrons through the sale of products in the Together for Bees collection will go to the Łąka Foundation, which has committed to using 100% of the proceeds for initiatives supporting biodiversity and wild bees. These actions will be carried out in 2025, with plans that include planting flower meadows, reforestation, and the publication of joint educational materials.
