Hurrah!

An urban musical instrument supported by The Polish Cultural Institute in New York and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C.

To commemorate this special occasion, our team of Industrial Design students and faculty from Pratt Institute and The Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts, in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C., created an art object that aims to capture and commemorate feelings of friendship and joy shared between Poles and Americans through music.

Its purpose is to show the relationship between the two countries on the human and artistic level and to inspire the act of collaborative creation. Alluding to both the Polish forest and New York skyscrapers, the vertical tubes allow the participant to feel enclosed in a space while still being connected to the greater landscape. The user's circular movement encouraged by the structure is reminiscent of traditional Polish dance circles, provoking a literal and metaphorical connection between participants.

​In May 2019, Hurrah! was exhibited in Times Square for Design Pavilion. The installation then traveled to Washington D.C. to join the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, where it sat in front of the World Bank. To celebrate the opening of the exhibit in D.C., Karol Murlak and Danielle Begnaud spoke about the project in a panel discussion at the World Bank. 

This playful and interactive installation is a celebration of the hundredth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and the United States. The large-scale xylophone is composed of stainless steel vertical tubes. When tapped consecutively with a drumstick, the tubes play the Polish birthday and anniversary song, Sto Lat. Users don't need to have any previous musical knowledge to experience the joy of playing music. The tune, known to every Pole and some Americans, recalls universal themes of fun, friendship, and love. Developed with Karol Murlak, Kasia Michnowska, and Marzena Krupa.