Opening: Monday, September 2, 6 p.m.

Romanian artists shout Li-ber-ta-te! Cво-бо-да! Free-dom! in Sofia, Bulgaria,
35 years after the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe

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The ArtSociety Foundation, in partnership with the Union of Bulgarian Artists, invites the public to an exhibition in which the recent historical past of Romania and Bulgaria is brought into discussion in the context of the 35th anniversary of the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe.
Li-ber-ta-te! Cво-бо-да! Free-dom! is a concept-exhibition presenting about 20 Romanian artists for the first time in Sofia. Sabin Bălașa, Felix Aftene, Andrei Chintilă, Irina Dragomir, Ondine Slimovschi, Georges Mazilu, Mihai Mureșan and Robert Lörincz are just some of them – from established artists to the young ones, reflecting several phases of Romanian contemporary art.
The exhibition will be open at Sofia Press Gallery in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia from the 2 to the 29th of September 2024. The curator of the exhibition is Aleksandra Mitseva.

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Li-ber-ta-te! Cво-бо-да! Free-dom! visually addresses Romania’s recent past, presenting illustrative artistic representations of the way in which accepting one’s history, the issue of freedom and understanding personal experiences in a world of transition are matters of interest for the Romanian artistic world.
Considering that the Bulgarian public will find here visual motifs from a common spectrum, the exhibition aims to invite to an intercultural dialogue that will bring the two cultural spaces closer together.

Ion Alin Gheorghiu (1929 – 2001)

Freedom approached from multiple angles, through a variety of mediums
The idea of freedom is addressed from multiple perspectives, rather raising fundamental questions that explore the meaning of freedom 35 years after the fall of the Soviet Bloc. The concept of freedom is approached by the selected artists from various angles, capturing different themes, such as intimacy, the oneiric, rebellion, anguish, lyricism or solitude.
Many of the works on display are most often interpreted through metaphor and symbols, but sometimes, as in the case of George Anghelescu, references to real historical events or characters anchor the viewer in the dramatic past (whether recent or distant).
On the other hand, the freedom understood as an inner experience, in spite of all constraints, or the freedom perceived as a form of escape into a world of imagination and dreams is reflected in the works of Felix Aftene, Irina Dragomir, Georges Mazilu and Ondine Slimovschi. Sabin Bălașa, Andrei Chintilă and Marcel Guguianu are inspired by the theme of intimacy as a space of inviolable but fragile freedom. In contrast, the works of Petre Velicu, Heidi Tradnik, Octavian Ioan Penda, Mihai Mureșan and Robert Lörincz focus on issues such as anguish, suffering, alienation and loneliness, posing the question of the limits of individual freedom and the difficulty of finding meaning in an ever-changing world.
In addition to the diversity of angles from which the concept of freedom is approached, another unique aspect of the exhibition is the variety of mediums of artistic expression, from abstract painting to figurative art, from drawing to sculpture and object. At the same time, the selection of artists is quite extensive, from established to young artists, passing through several phases of contemporary art and reflecting the curatorial vision, which assumes a courageous discourse on freedom.

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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 or how the project results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary.

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About the ArtSociety Foundation
An independent cultural operator, founded in 2010 by the renowned art critic and art historian Ruxandra Garofeanu (1944-2021), the ArtSociety Cultural Centre Foundation supports and promotes Romanian heritage, modern and contemporary art, by organising curatorial and thematic exhibitions and cultural events. ArtSociety advocates for the acknowledgment of the importance of Romanian art and its correlation with European art. Through its projects, it aims to contribute to education through exposure to art and by creating new mechanisms for understanding the events and the historical period in which we find ourselves. Art is an essential part of the education of the new generations, and through its partnerships the ArtSociety Cultural Centre Foundation becomes an extension of the public institutions responsible for educational programmes, providing young people with access to all forms of artistic expression.

About the Union of Bulgarian Artists
At present, some 3,000 artists and art critics of all generations are members of the Union. Membership is individual and there are 17 sections: Painting; Graphic Art and Illustration; Sculpture; Art Criticism; Cartoon Art; Commercial Design; Scenography; Restoration; Monumental Arts; Design; Ceramics; Graphic Design; Section 13: Non-Conventional Forms; Woodcarving; Jewellery; Textile; Comics.

About the Sofia Press Gallery
Founded in 2006, Sofia Press Gallery is a space for presenting the art of Bulgarian authors, especially members of the Union of Bulgarian Artists (UBA), the Union of Bulgarian Writers (UBB) and the Union of Bulgarian Journalists (UBB). The gallery promotes works in the field of visual arts such as painting, sculpture and photography, organizes literary readings and book premieres, as well as educational events. Its main goal has always been to provide an accessible connection between artists and their fans, to develop the taste for art and to enrich the audience with interesting artistic insights.

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Mihai Mureșan
Born in 1995 in Gherla, Cluj County, Mihai Mureșan completed his bachelor and master studies at the University of Arts and Design in Cluj-Napoca, specialising in Painting. He is currently a PhD student at the same institution. An artist with a continuously developing style, Mihai Mureșan offers us the early signs of a solid, clear and creative concept, based on a solitary and melancholic atmosphere. Nature is his best model, and the artist manages to capture the smallest things that make up the chain of life, the junction point between everything that is more complex, but also more restrained in nature.

Irina Dragomir
Born in 1983 in Mangalia, Irina Dragomir graduated from the University of Arts in Bucharest and is an important voice of the new generation of contemporary artists. She has exhibited in the most important museums and art galleries in Romania. Irina Dragomir’s art combines contemporary elements, colours, symbols and conventions of Pop Art culture, and the heroines in her works represent different voices of humanity.

Robert Lörincz
A rising artist of the moment, Robert Lörincz was born in 1995 in Sfântu Gheorghe, Covasna County, graduating with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Arts and Design in Cluj-Napoca, under the guidance of Ioan Sbârciu. Robert draws inspiration from his passion for music, cinema and literature. But he also explores the power of the visual art inspired by mythology and symbolism. His characters, strongly individualised through details such as clothing or physical features, are captured in a state of deep reverie, creating a rather non-historical space.

Vlad Paraschiv
Born in 1994 in Bistrița, Vlad Paraschiv attended the University of Arts and Design in Cluj-Napoca, where he completed his bachelor and master studies in Painting. The artist defines his work as an ambiguous tension between seriousness, irony, fun and quirkiness. He likes to create miniseries for a subject, and one of his main concerns is exploring the pictorial medium, both for its wide range of formal expressive qualities and for the relationship between rational and instinctive-automatic choice, which he uses to convey a message or an idea.

Heidi Tradnik
An eminent student of the University of Arts and Design in Cluj-Napoca, Heidi Tradnik (b. 1994) continued her studies in Belgium and Spain through the Erasmus programme. The artist experiments with different materials, such as bronze, ceramics or stone, but also with the materiality of sponge, with its ability to create structures, compared to other materials. Thus, she explores different ways of construction and their limits, manipulating the metaphorical potential of the elements. Her work illustrates the reflections and influences of her thoughts and the connections between them, attempting to analyse and organise through sculpture the emotional material she has accumulated.

Lucian Smău
Born in 1967 in Buhuși, Bacău, Lucian Smău graduated from the “George Enescu” Academy of Arts in Iași, the Sculpture department. His work is a manifesto of his belief in the art of portraiture, of the human figure – especially the female figure. The characters portrayed by the artist depict stylized feminine archetypes, graces, chimaeras or female deities that speak to birds. The muses are sculpted in white marble, granite, stone or bronze – materials that give a certain nobility to the figures and are durable, long-lasting on earth.

Octavian Ioan Penda
A graduate of the Academy of Visual Arts in Bucharest, Octavian Ioan Penda (1956-2011) was the Romanian artist who worked on the first Romanian banknote after the Revolution of 1989. Painter and engraver, sculptor and medallist, ceramist and glassmaker, writer and professor, Penda was a singular character due to his ability to work in several branches of the visual arts.

Petre Velicu
An outstanding contemporary artist, Petre Velicu (born in 1950) is known for his distinctive style that navigates between Surrealism and magical Realism. Velicu studied at the “Nicolae Grigorescu” Institute of Fine Arts with Gheorghe Șaru. His work is a fusion of figurative and abstract elements, where each painting seems to embody a world of its own, full of symbolism and mystery. This blend of the real and the imaginary often materialises in themes such as the carnival, where the mask becomes a key symbol – not a mere accessory, but a portal to the revelation of the depths of the soul. In his works, the dynamism of colour and detail creates an intense visual effect, transforming each painting into a vibrant spectacle of colour and movement, with symbols and metaphor as the means by which the artist creates inner labyrinths.

Felix Aftene
Felix Aftene was born in Vaslui, in 1972, and graduated as valedictorian of the “George Enescu” Academy of Arts in Iași, Faculty of Decorative Fine Arts and Design, specialising in Mural Art. The artist lives and works in Iași, but he is well-known both nationally and internationally, thanks to his rich artistic activity, with works in painting, sculpture, mural painting or new media. His creations can be found in the most important museums in the country, such as the National Art Museum of Romania or the Museum of Contemporary Art of Romania. Felix Aftene’s work focuses on the human character enriched with myths, that walks the path of existence oscillating between the joys of the spirit and those of the body.

Georges Mazilu
Born in Vânjuleț, Romania, in 1951, Georges Mazilu graduated from the “Nicolae Grigorescu” Institute of Fine Arts in Bucharest in 1974, and since 1982 he has been living and working in France and Spain. In his artistic discourse, we find manifestations of human nature: joy, love, sadness, naivety, falsity. Behaviours directed towards the supernatural that delight the eye with the expressive force of a skilful and tonally refined drawing. Combining the aesthetics of the hideous with the eternal dimension of beauty, the hybrid and partially humanised faces in Mazilu’s paintings are engaged in moral and theatrical actions. The disfigured anatomies, delicate gestures and body language shock and then soothe us.

Ondine Slimovschi
Born in 1982, Ondine Slimovschi is a female artist of serene mythology and enchanting fairy tales. She uses the feminine portrait as a tool to suggest strong emotions. Ondine’s artistic interest is generally centred on the archetypal type and on human emotions, as well as on certain aspects of metamorphosis. The mixture of contradictory feelings, the perpetual search for self-discovery, unpredictable situations, contrasts and the dangerous game of uncertainty are identified in the re-contextualized concept of nostalgia, synthesising the need for security, the fusion of the abyss with the revelation, the unmasking of deep emotions, unfulfilled needs. The artist has developed a distinctive aura to her style, inspired in part by the escapism and melancholy of the 19th century – the century of Romantic aesthetics –, by the Art Deco illustrations and by the analytical psychology, using a variety of techniques, including acrylic colours, oil paint, ink, graphite and permanent markers.

Simona Vasiliu Chintilă
Simona Vasiliu Chintilă (1928-2009) was a renowned Romanian woman painter, appreciated for her significant contribution to Romanian fine art. She was born in Piatra-Neamț and attended the “Nicolae Grigorescu” Institute of Fine Arts in Bucharest, where she trained under the guidance of prestigious artists. Her artistic style is known for her subtle use of colours and for the sensitivity with which she approached the subjects, being considered a colourist of great refinement. Simona Vasiliu Chintilă is also renowned for the way in which she managed to capture the essence of the Romanian landscape and of the urban landscapes of Bucharest, combining traditional influences with a modernist view.

Ion Pacea
Ion Pacea (1944-2020) was a Romanian visual artist known for his contribution to the fine arts field, especially in painting and sculpture. He was renowned for his unique style and innovative approaches in contemporary art.
Pacea studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Bucharest, where he developed his technique and artistic style. His works are often characterised by a deep exploration of form and colour, being particularly known for his still-life and landscape themes, but also for his abstract creations in bright colours. Influenced by Henri Matisse and Maurice de Vlaminck, Pacea’s work often has a nostalgic touch.

George Anghelescu
George Anghelescu is a Romanian multimedia artist born in Bucharest in 1985. He is known for blending pop culture references with postmodernist elements, often using his art to critique contemporary society. Anghelescu graduated from the National University of Arts in Bucharest and furthered his studies in painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. His work spans various mediums, including painting (using both acrylic and oil), collage, and stencils. Anghelescu’s art often features vivid colours, kitsch elements, and sharp political commentary, reflecting on the socio-political landscape of post-socialist Romania. He positions himself as both an observer and a critic of the societal conditions in his homeland, exploring themes such as democracy, consumerism, and the impact of political figures.

Sabin Bălașa
Sabin Bălașa (1932-2008) was a renowned Romanian painter, muralist, and writer, recognized for his distinctive and surreal style that often depicted cosmic and mythological themes. Born in Dobriceni, Romania, Bălașa studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest, where he developed a unique artistic vision that combined elements of Realism, fantasy, and Symbolism. Bălașa’s work is characterised by vivid colours, fluid forms, and a dreamlike atmosphere, often referred to as “cosmic romanticism”. He became particularly famous for his large-scale murals, many of which can be found in public spaces across Romania, including the University of Iași, where his series of murals became iconic. Throughout his career, Bălașa explored themes of universal human experience, spirituality, and the connection between humanity and the cosmos. His work often featured idealised human figures set against expansive, otherworldly landscapes, reflecting his fascination with the metaphysical and the eternal.

Andrei Chintilă
Andrei Chintilă (1958-2007) was a prominent Romanian painter, graphic artist, and photographer, known for his contributions to neo-figurative painting during the 1980s. Born in Bucharest, he graduated from the “Nicolae Grigorescu” Institute of Fine Arts, where he studied under the guidance of the renowned professor Octav Grigorescu. Chintilă’s work is deeply associated with the 1980s generation of Romanian artists, and he was a key figure in postmodern Romanian art. His art is characterised by a return to figurative morphologies and a focus on themes of freedom and existential tension. His paintings often explore the human form and everyday scenes, infused with a vibrant colour palette and a strong emotional charge. His works have been displayed in numerous exhibitions across Romania and Europe, and he is remembered for his ability to capture the essence of the human experience with both tenderness and intensity.

Ion Alin Gheorghiu
Ion Alin Gheorghiu (1929-2001) was a prominent Romanian painter and sculptor, recognized for his unique contributions to postmodernist art. Born into a modest family, Gheorghiu studied at the Institute of Fine Arts under Camil Ressu, a remarkable Romanian painter. His early work was marked by challenges during the Soviet-influenced era of Socialist Realism, leading to his rejection from official exhibitions until after the withdrawal of the Red Army in 1958. Gheorghiu’s art is celebrated for its original blend of figurative and abstract styles. He developed a distinctive technique involving layers and smears, which gave his paintings a rich, complex texture. One of his recurring themes was the Hanging Gardens – a series of works that evolved into organic compositions symbolising the connection between earth and sky. His sculptures, often titled Chimaeras, reflect his fascination with mythology and display a bold, monumental force.

Marcel Guguianu
Marcel Guguianu (1922-2012) was a renowned Romanian sculptor, celebrated for his elegant and fluid representations of the human form, often focusing on feminine beauty. Born in Bârlad, he is considered one of Romania’s most significant sculptors of the 20th century. Guguianu’s works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions, both in Romania and internationally, including in countries like Italy, the United States, France, and Brazil. His sculptures are known for their grace and emotional depth, typically sculpted from marble, bronze, or wood. Some of his most notable works include the sculpture Torso and the bronze piece The Lark, which became emblematic of his style and was even donated to the World Bank in Washington, D.C.