Ptak Sculptural Accent

The Ptak (Bird) sculptural accent is an outdoor sculpture on Lotników Square in Szczecin, made in 1981-1982. It shows a resting dove in a seated position, on a wide plinth on a rectangular plan.

The sculpture

The compact, synthetically treated form has a smooth surface in dark grey, with traces of sand and small pebbles. The bird itself is 70 cm high, 190 cm with the plinth, and the sculpture measures 74 cm in width and 130 cm in depth. It originally stood in the south-eastern part of the square, level with Małopolska Street, and was moved to its present location. In 2010 the sculpture was damaged and later repaired, with the broken-off fragment of the head recreated.

A cycle of twelve accents

The Bird belongs to a cycle that was commissioned in 1981-1982 on behalf of the city authorities: twelve sculptural accents were to stand along a walking route from National Unity Avenue (today Pope John Paul II Avenue) to Lotników Square. Originally the square was a green area, and the sculptures were set up as park pieces. In 2002, after a copy of the Colleoni Monument was brought in, the square was modernised, the arrangement of the sculptures was changed and the greenery was greatly reduced. Ten accents have survived to this day. The originator of the project was Stanisław Biżek.

Practical information

• Location: Lotników Square, the centre of Szczecin.
• The sculpture is viewed in public space. Not far away stands the Royal Gate.