Frederic Chopin Monument in Warsaw

The Frederic Chopin Monument in Warsaw is a bronze sculpture in a park on the northern edge of the city, showing the pianist seated beneath a willow tree. The seated musician measures about six meters in height, while the abstract branches above extend roughly seven meters upward, creating a combined form of human figure and natural motif.

The sculptor Wacław Szymanowski designed the work in 1907, but it was erected only much later after years of political debate delayed its installation. During World War II, German troops destroyed the piece, but in the late 1950s it was recast using the preserved molds.

Since the 1950s, visitors gather on Sunday afternoons in summer when pianists from Poland and other countries perform the composer's works on an open grand piano near the statue. These free performances draw hundreds of listeners who sit on the grass and benches, creating an informal outdoor concert hall.

The sculpture stands in the upper section of Łazienki, near Aleje Ujazdowskie, and is freely accessible year-round with no fences or barriers surrounding it. Visitors can walk directly up to the base or rest on the surrounding paths and lawns.

The curved branches above the musician suggest both a tree and an outstretched hand resting on a keyboard, merging two visual layers in a single sculpture. The base contains a technical system that allows speakers and microphones to be connected during concerts without altering the appearance of the monument.