The sixteenth unique artistic bench, named “Little White Grove”, was created by university graduate landscape architect Tina Kuhar. It is situated in the park of the University Medical Centre Maribor (near the Oncology Department) at Ljubljanska ulica 5. The bench is made of concrete, wood, and various plants. The official unveiling took place on 17 June 2020.
Tina Kuhar graduated from the Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana and furthered her knowledge at SLU, Alnarp, Sweden, in the Department of Landscape Architecture. She is a co-founder and co-owner of Dandelion, a small garden workshop, and the author of numerous plantings in private and commercial spaces in Slovenia.
The story of the Bench
A small park with benches, birch trees, and shrubs in white and green hues, emphasizing its neatness and harmony, symbolizes the close connection between patients, their loved ones, and medical staff, represented by the three subjects (three benches in a trio) involved in the illness process. The white grove near the Oncology Department of UKC Maribor has a calming effect on the well-being of its visitors. The birches and their canopies swaying in the wind represent the joy of life, while the circles in the paving stones signify unity and eternity.