From Near to Far. Visual Cartographies of the Spaces 2 Mai and Vama Veche
October 15th – November 15th, 2020
National Romanian Peasant Museum, Bucharest
An exhibition organised by tranzit.ro/București
Curator: Iuliana Dumitru
The subject of 2 Mai and Vama Veche has been explored in the past 20 years from various perspectives. Novels, biographies, seasonal articles, stories have been written, as well as academic research: dissertations with ethnographic, anthropological, economical and historical nuances. Thus, the two villages have long been more than dwellings on the shore, they have a special character in the landscape of Romanian seaside, difficult to frame, but interesting to research.
The exhibition ”From Near to Far. Visual Cartographies of the Spaces 2 Mai and Vama Veche” continues, in a different medium from the PhD research whose extension it is, the research made by Iuliana Dumitru about the narratives and mythmaking of this space. Starting from her emotional bond with this area, as she is born and raised in 2 Mai, the curator adds a visual layer to the narrative research she has already made.
The exhibition showcases works of painting, graphics, sculpture, ceramic, photography, made by artists from various generations: Geta Brătescu, Nicolae Comănescu, Irina Crivăț, Constantin Pacea, Ion Pacea, Cristian Pepino, Silvia Radu, Simona Runcan, Viorel Simionescu, Anamaria Smigelschi, Adrian Maftei, Lucia Maftei, Alexandru Maftei, Ovidiu Marcu, Constanța Stratulat. Two video works will also be shown, the anthropological documentary of Miruna Tîrcă and the poetic film of Ada-Maria Ichim. The exhibition design is made by Alex Axinte.
The works have been made between 1960 and 2015 and represent explorations of the space framed by 2 Mai and Vama Veche, places known to a large audience because during the communist period, these were the favoured places of the intellectual bohemians, alternatives to mass tourism and fixed schedules, allowing those going there to have a certain freedom, favourable to artistic creation. The purpose of the exhibition is to change the way we relate to a space, known only through a certain prism, that of a destination for self-organised vacations. Alongside artworks and documentary work, archive material, artifacts and daily use objects will also be showcased, trying to render an ample portrait of a space which is also one of dwelling, not only of seasonal visiting. Thus, through the variety of the materials showcased, the exhibition will align itself to the series of research exhibitions organised by tranzit.ro/Bucharest, contextualising works of art and integrating them in a wider cultural and social discourse.
Objects borrowed from:
Alexandra Naum, Didița Rață, Elena Dumitru, Florentina Cornea, Florina Rață, Lenuța Dragomir, Lenuța Sandu, Liliana Ivan, Liliana Tudose, Maria Feodorof, Maria Ghelbere, Marian și Cristina Rață, Olga Naum, Saide Velișa, Silvia Cubaniț, Titu Constantin, Toma Niculae, 2 Mai Fishery
(Stănică Georgian).
Graphic design: Eduard Constantin
PR: Cristina Zanfirescu
Curatorial consultancy: Raluca Voinea
Texts editing and translations: Dana Andrei
Texts for publication: Andreea Berechet-Ionescu, Paul Breazu, Iuliana Dumitru, Ruxandra Petrinca
Partner: Center of Excellence in Image Studies (CESI)
A cultural project co-financed by The Administration of the National Cultural Fund. The project does not necessarily represent the position of The Administration of the National Cultural Fund. The Administration of the National Cultural Fund is not responsible for the content of the project or the manner in which the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding recipient.
Cover picture: Vama Veche, © Anamaria Smigelschi, watercolour, 1998
