CANTEMIR Programme // Freedom. Body. Resistance.

The Association Forum of Visual Arts announces the launch of the project "Freedom. Body. Resistance.", an initiative aimed at promoting contemporary Romanian art in Bulgaria and Poland, offering a new perspective on the major changes that have taken place in society and the artistic scene since December 1989.

The initiative begins with the opening of the group exhibition "Freedom. Body. Resistance.", which will take place on May 24th, 2024, as part of the Contemporary Art Festival "BUNA" in Varna, Bulgaria (May 24th - June 2nd, 2024). "BUNA" is a decentralized international festival that supports the development of the Bulgarian and international contemporary visual scene. This year's festival theme is "Nature of Relationships", curated by Irina Batkova. "BUNA" will take place in the old town of Varna and will include over 40 local and international organizations, presenting exhibitions, urban interventions, performances, and conferences.

The exhibition "Freedom. Body. Resistance." will feature works by artists Dan Perjovschi, Lia Perjovschi, Cristina Irian, Alexandra Dumitrescu, Dragoș Dogioiu, Emil Cristian Ghiță, and Raluca Paraschiv, curated by Raluca Oancea. The central theme consists of an analysis of the changes in the political, social, and artistic body, carried out with the help of photography archives (public or personal), with the aim of critically evaluating recent history. This initiative was launched with the creation of the online database "Archives of the Seaside" by the FAV Association.

The focus of the exhibition falls on the changes that have occurred at the level of the political, social, artistic, and biological bodies, triggered by the December 1989 Revolution. The carefully selected artists, curated by Raluca Oancea, approach the theme of freedom in the context of the association between body and freedom, analyzing the body as an organism, structure, or artistic material, presenting these works to the Bulgarian public for the first time. The proposed works emphasize the connection between body and freedom, where the body becomes a powerful weapon for conquering freedom – whether political, expressive, or gender.

The concept of freedom is also associated with the idea of a "call", which carries socio-political or metaphysical meanings, from the "call" awaited by Romanians in the Ceaușescu regime in order to leave the country's borders, to artistic and anthropological exploration, in which participants explain the personal meaning they attribute to this concept.

The project is cofinanced by the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir program*.

Co-organizers: BUNA Foundation, Archeology of Photography Foundation

Partners: Czech Center Bucharest, Creative Experiences, Is This Art? Photography Art Gallery Bucharest

Media Partners: AGERPRES National News Agency, Romanian Visual Artists Union (UAP), Arta Magazine, Propagarta, Radio Romania International (RRI)

The Association Forum of Visual Arts (FAV) is an organization dedicated to preserving the national cultural heritage, material and immaterial. FAV organizes projects and supports cultural initiatives in alternative spaces and in less developed communities, addressing all categories of the public. FAValso supports and promotes contemporary artistic production, facilitating the mobility and exposure of young artists by creating opportunities for them in the public sphere. The organization's activities also involve an ecological dimension, involving local communities in actions related to environmental issues, debates, and educational documentary film screenings.

BUNA is the most important forum for contemporary visual arts in Bulgaria, debuting in 2023 and hosting 57 events that explore the entire contemporary sector in the country. As the only representative festival for contemporary visual arts, it aims to represent, unite, and expand both the local and international artistic scene. The festival is structured as a decentralized residency, offering any organization the opportunity to participate, thus emphasizing the autonomy of each individual project.

*This project is cofinanced by the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Programme - a funding framework for cultural projects intended for the international environment. The Romanian Cultural Institute cannot be held responsible for the content of this material.