• The Polish pavilion has metal birds on the exterior and interior across a wood panelled facade. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Polish pavilion has metal birds on the exterior and interior across a wood panelled facade. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Workers fix a metallic installation across Poland's pavilion at the Dubai World Expo site to showcase themes of mobility and creativity.
    Workers fix a metallic installation across Poland's pavilion at the Dubai World Expo site to showcase themes of mobility and creativity.
  • The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site has metal birds installed across a wood panelled exterior.
    The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site has metal birds installed across a wood panelled exterior.
  • Scores of metal birds depict the migratory route taken from Poland to the Arab peninsula and form the centrepiece of the country's offering at the Dubai World Expo. It shows Poland's strong connection to nature.
    Scores of metal birds depict the migratory route taken from Poland to the Arab peninsula and form the centrepiece of the country's offering at the Dubai World Expo. It shows Poland's strong connection to nature.
  • Workers instal metallic birds across Poland's pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site to show the link between the country and the Arab world through migratory flocks that make their way every year.
    Workers instal metallic birds across Poland's pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site to show the link between the country and the Arab world through migratory flocks that make their way every year.
  • The Polish pavilion at Dubai Expo.
    The Polish pavilion at Dubai Expo.
  • Workers ready the Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo.
    Workers ready the Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo.
  • The Polish pavilion is being readied for the Dubai Expo that opens in October.
    The Polish pavilion is being readied for the Dubai Expo that opens in October.
  • The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Poland Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site nears completion. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Poland Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site nears completion. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The interior of Poland's pavilion at the Dubai Expo site being readied. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The interior of Poland's pavilion at the Dubai Expo site being readied. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Polish pavilion at Dubai Expo. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Polish pavilion at Dubai Expo. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Workers inside the Polish pavilion at the Dubai World Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Workers inside the Polish pavilion at the Dubai World Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A rendering of the Poland Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
    A rendering of the Poland Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
  • A rendering of the completed Poland Pavilion. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
    A rendering of the completed Poland Pavilion. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
  • A render of Poland's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
    A render of Poland's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Rendering of Poland's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
    Rendering of Poland's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Rendering of Poland's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
    Rendering of Poland's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Poland Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Polish pavilion at the Dubai Expo site. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Polish pavilion at Dubai Expo site. The pavilion has metal birds across a wood panelled facade. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Polish pavilion at Dubai Expo site. The pavilion has metal birds across a wood panelled facade. Antonie Robertson / The National

Expo 2020 Dubai: flocks of migratory bird models flutter on Poland Pavilion, promising Instagram moments


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

Tens of thousands of migratory birds that fly every year from Poland to the UAE and across the Arab world will be represented in an eye-catching installation at Expo 2020 Dubai.

White metal stylised birds that sway with the movement of the wind will veil a wood-covered pavilion that resembles a tree.

This symbolises the flight of huge flocks that migrate to the Emirates in search of warmer temperatures.

Workers are attaching the links connecting the metal birds across the interior and exterior of the Poland Pavilion. The migrating birds installation is intended to convey a message of co-existence between people and nature, officials said.

The sculpture of the birds is being mounted and will be one of the those Instagram points of your visit to the Expo

Adrian Malinowski, commissioner general of the Poland Pavilion, said millions of Instagram fans would be impressed by the visual depiction and its significance – and would be keen to post images and videos online.

“This will be a one-of-a-kind experience when you visit a tree-like building that gives you a proper feeling of motion.

"The sculpture of the birds will be one of the those Instagram points of your visit to the Expo," Mr Malinowski said in an interview with The National.

“They will move even when there is a very light wind. When it comes to thousands of migrating birds, the sculpture really resembles what connects Poland to the Arab region and the UAE itself.”

Workers assemble a migratory birds installation on the Poland Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Antonie Robertson / The National
Workers assemble a migratory birds installation on the Poland Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Antonie Robertson / The National

The pavilion is narrow at the base and expands across two higher floors to represent the spreading crown of a tree.

Poland is known as a birdwatcher's paradise, where hundreds of species nest in its meadows, wetlands and fields.

“Our motto is creativity inspired by nature,” Mr Malinowski said.

"Poland is a breeding ground for migrating birds during the summer. They nurture their chicks and then fly off in late autumn and early winter to Africa,  Asia  and the Arabian Peninsula for the warmer conditions. Then the cycle repeats itself.

"So the birds are perceived as Polish but Arabic as well. This really fits into the Expo theme of mobility.”

The Poland Pavilion will also highlight the country's satellite industry and research in space technology.

The first two storeys will be open to Expo visitors, while companies will be given space on the third level to interact in conference rooms to explore future co-operation.

It will also feature a Polish table exhibit made from aluminum alloys used in the space industry for ground equipment and spacecraft.

“This experience will be an introduction to Polish culture, hospitality and friendliness," Mr Malinowski said.

"This is something we are proud of because we love our guests and will do everything to make them feel at home.

“Hospitality is in our culture, it is derived from our tradition and history. We will use the Polish table to show our creativity with the use of modern materials and raw natural resources.”

When the Expo announced a one-year delay in the opening to October 2021, Polish planners modified exhibits, making them interactive with large-scale multimedia projections and removed touchscreen elements because of Covid-19 concerns.

"It will be immersive but for safety reasons we have discarded 99 per cent of touch screens," Mr Malinowski said.

“We have introduced audio sensors. Visitors will be guided with light patterns. In every zone we will try to keep the interest of viewers but with safe solutions.”

Sensors will be in place to measure hot spots and hosts will guide visitors to less populated sections.

The overall message is that despite the social distancing dictated by the coronavirus pandemic, harmony is vital.

“The world is not the same any more. But we need to be closer than ever before, even though it's not possible in the physical manner.

"We will try to address those issues as we strengthen relations," Mr Malinowski said.

About 70 university students are being recruited in Poland to serve as hosts and walk guests through the pavilion. The first group will arrive in the UAE in September for three months.

Mr Malinowski, who has been travelling frequently to Dubai to supervise work on the Poland Pavilion, will move to the city in August with his wife and two young children. They will make the UAE their home for a year.

"The whole family is thrilled to be coming to Dubai. We are currently in the process of trying to find schools for our children," he said.

“It will be a huge adventure for the whole family. This will help us prepare for the Expo and is our commitment to making this a success.”

Life-size replica of Michelangelo’s 'David' at Expo 2020 – in pictures

  • Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National
    Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National
  • Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National
    Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National
  • Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia Di Firenze, the museum that is home to the original of Michelangelo’s David during the unveiling ceremony of David statue at the Italy pavilion at EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
    Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia Di Firenze, the museum that is home to the original of Michelangelo’s David during the unveiling ceremony of David statue at the Italy pavilion at EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
  • Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National)
    Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National)
  • Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National
    Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan the UAE’s minister of tolerance, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and other guests were also present during the unveiling ceremony. Pawan Singh/The National
  • View of the Italy pavilion at EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
    View of the Italy pavilion at EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
  • Carlo Ratti (left) and Italo Rita, co-designers of the Italian pavilion during the unveiling ceremony of David statue at the Italy pavilion at EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
    Carlo Ratti (left) and Italo Rita, co-designers of the Italian pavilion during the unveiling ceremony of David statue at the Italy pavilion at EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
The Bio

Name: Lynn Davison

Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi

Children: She has one son, Casey, 28

Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
​​​​​​​Release Date: April 10

W.
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Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

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