Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue

"Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue" is a unique artistic project by Joanna Rajkowska, featuring a central element in the form of an artificial date palm, which was unveiled on December 12, 2002, at the Charles de Gaulle Roundabout in Warsaw. Standing approximately 15 meters tall, the palm was crafted by the American company Soul-utions.Com using both synthetic and natural materials, giving it both a decorative character and a social commentary. The project was inspired by Rajkowska and Artur Żmijewski's trip to Israel in 2001 and originally envisioned a row of palm trees, but ultimately, a single installation was decided upon. The palm became the subject of controversy regarding its durability, maintenance costs, and political interpretations. From a cultural perspective, the project was widely discussed in the media, and in a 2003 public opinion survey, 75% of Warsaw residents supported its retention in the urban space. Legally, the palm was owned by Rajkowska, who in 2007 agreed to transfer the property copyrights to the city while effectively retaining control over its fate. In later years, the palm underwent renovations and became a medium for expressing protests, such as the hanging of a Palestinian keffiyeh in 2011 or the removal of its leaves in 2012 as a protest against municipal decisions. The palm also found itself in the context of ecological actions, with the "wilting palm" campaign in 2019 aimed at drawing attention to environmental issues. In 2022, the weekly magazine "Polityka" recognized this installation as one of the ten most important works of art of the last thirty years. Rajkowska's project is not only an art object but also a symbol of social and ecological discussions, prompting reflection on Warsaw's identity and the problems of contemporary times. The palm, which may be relocated due to the planned elimination of the roundabout, remains an important reference point in the debate about the future of public space in Poland's capital.