Why does it matter?

This year’s edition of the Great Exhibition of Bees is a special moment for me. We’re celebrating five years of the Together for Bees project – a movement born out of the need to act, and out of love for nature, art, and collaboration. Over the years, we’ve built a space where the voices of artists, makers, brands, and all those who truly care about wild bees and biodiversity come together.

The exhibition’s title – Tribute to Bee, Act Together – carries a deliberate double meaning. It’s a tribute to bees (bee), but also a call to be: present, aware, attentive. It’s also an appeal to act collectively – because only together can we respond to the urgent challenges nature presents us with.

The exhibition premieres on August 8 at Wolny Jazdów in Warsaw, set among wildflowers specially created for the occasion by artist Zuza Miśko. In this natural setting, over 150 works by creators from around the world will be presented – from illustrations and sculptures to functional design. It’s a multi-voiced story about bees, nature, and humanity.

At the heart of the exhibition are wild bees – solitary species that don’t live in hives and don’t produce honey, yet play a vital role in pollination. In Poland alone, there are around 500 species, many of which are endangered. Through the exhibition, you’ll learn more about their world, their connection to specific native plants, and why species diversity is essential for healthy ecosystems.

The exhibition is also a space for reflection. The question I pose – Why does it matter? – returns not only in relation to bees, but to how we live and what we choose every day.
For me, the answer is: for the future.
For quality over quantity.
For supporting craftsmanship and the work of human hands instead of mass production and disposability.

An important role in the project is played by the Bee Patrons – brands, artists, and craftspeople who have created special products inspired by bees and nature. A portion of the proceeds from these products goes to support the artists, and another part supports real, on-the-ground efforts to protect wild pollinators and biodiversity. It’s tangible, meaningful support – and proof that we can create beautifully and responsibly at the same time.

After five years of working on Together for Bees, I believe this even more deeply:
The future belongs to what we build together.
With care, with respect, and with attention.

See you at the exhibition!
Diana Dyba
Art curator, founder of Together for Bees

All photos: Maria Nowrot