Changing Environments is the curatorial and research theme of the exhibition. Through two interactive installations, it explores the impact we feel on an individual and community level caused by excessive use of technology, environmental destruction or unseen realities owing to the speed of scrolling.
Neo Art Connect
The selected artists are the winners of the NAC-Neo Art Connect Grants, 2nd Edition ’24, part of Romania’s first art and science Annual, Sebastian Comănescu with the project Thigmonastic Specimen 001, and Marina Oprea with Ourcelium. These two artistic explorations of significant contemporary societal issues represent ongoing research themes for the artists over several years, with the installations premiering on the neoartconnect.ro platform.
Changing Environments creates a space for debate from the socio-cultural perspective of creators and artists who integrate, use, or collaborate with various scientific fields and new technologies. It addresses the impact felt on an individual, socio-economic, and cultural level due to major changes in contemporary society, caused by the development of technology and new AI presence in most aspects of life, as well as climate and environmental changes, thus creating new perspectives and hope.
Ourcelium (Marina Oprea): Video installation, polymer clay, epoxy resin, silicone
Thigmonastic Specimen 001 (Sebastian Comanescu): A speculative mechanical symbiote which is fused with a decomposing log.
-
Ourcelium
Marina Oprea (RO)
Video installation, clay, resin. In the current era, in which human influence is seemingly dominant, an essential reality is often overshadowed by anthropic concerns: the true dominant species of the biosphere is the fungal kingdom.
-
Thigmonastic Specimen 001
Sebastian Comanescu (RO)
Kinetic Sculpture. A speculative mechanical symbiote which is fused with a decomposing log. The hybrid casts a critical perspective upon the natural/artificial dichotomy which allows us the comfort of a passive attitude towards the environment.
NEOART Association / Galateca Gallery (RO)
NEOART Association / Galateca Gallery is one of the oldest multidisciplinary contemporary art and new media galleries and associations in Romania. It is a reference space in Bucharest and a platform for the promotion of multimedia projects. Since 2012, NEOART Association / Galateca Gallery has undertaken programs and initiated projects to promote young or emerging artists, creative sustainability, art and science. Neo Art Connect (NAC) is the first art and science annual and national network, aiming to develop a cultural and research platform.
Credits
Artists: Marina Oprea, Sebastian Comanescu / Curators: Andreea Sandu, Anca Boeriu / Photo: Razvan Mihalachi / Video: Alexandru Mihai Gheorghe, Claudiu Turcu / Sound: Diana Miron
The project is part of Neo Art Connect Annual, organized by Galateca and NeoArt Association.
Co-financed by RCI – Romanian Cultural Institute and BRD – Groupe Societe Generale
