Visual Arts

On Wednesday, 17th October 2018, 6.00 p.m., the Media foyer of the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre (Intercontinental wing) shall host the varnishing of the painting exhibition The Sign of Jonah signed by Cristian Badilita*. The event shall be prefaced by the poet Ana Blandiana. Known as a writer, essayist, poet, historian of early Christianism, translator – among others – of the New Testament, Cristian Badilita shall be present on the rails of the National Theatre in a new posture, the one of visual artist. The 40 manually manufactured paper plates which shall be exhibited, propose a troubling visual comment, in a symbolic register, of episodes and parables from the Gospel after Matthew. This is how the author himself defines this unusual endeavour: „The Sign of Jonahis a symbolic meditation on the Gospel after Matthew (the symbol being a wider term, more generous, less devotional than the icon). The symbol transcends the author, not depending strictly upon its „crafty” performances. If I were asked to draw a real fish, this would be impossible to me, because I am simply not gifted for drawing. But maybe precisely because I cannot draw a real fish, I can „imagine” a fish-symbol, a „trans-real fish”. This is the way I ask the exhibition symbols to be seen, read, perceived and interpreted. As you know, the term „symbol” originates from the Greek verb syn-ballein, „to put together”, „to reunite”. „The symbol” was a piece of ceramic broken in two on the occasion of a conclusion of a contract. Each of the „contracting parties” received a half. The two halves were „put together” at the ratification or breach of the contract. The present exhibition illustrates, also at another level, the original significance of the „symbol”. It „puts together” the image with the evangelic text, in an own version, very faithful to the Greek original. Thus, in the beginning was the reader of the Gospel. Its translator from old Greek into the Romanian of the 21st century followed, considering the most trustworthy editions. They were joined by the poet-theologist, who, this time, invents visual metaphors, not semantical-auditory ones. So much about the author and the specificity of works! They would have continued waiting, quietly, in their hiding place, if bishop Virgil Bercea had not replied, with his usual promptness, to the proposal of organising an exhibition in the memory of the seven Greek and Catholic bishops arrested seventy years ago, when modern Romania’s founding Church was made illegal by Communist non-law. The present exhibition is dedicated to the seven bishops - martyrs and, through them, to the true Church of Jesus Christ, a dignified, brave one, not subjected to the times and compromises of a century or an instant.  The National Theatre represents a third stop of this exceptional exhibition, after the Ilfoveanu Foundation of Pitesti and the Muzeikon from Alba Iulia.  The exhibition The Sign of Jonah shall be open to the audience until 18th November 2018. Entrance is free, daily from 11.00-18.00, except for Mondays.   *Cristian Badilita (b. 1968). Writer, historian of early Christianism. PhD of the Paris IV University – Sorbonne with the thesis Métamorphoses de l’Antichrist chez les Pères de l’Eglise (Solomon Reinach Award of the Hellenistic Association of France). Fellow at the Madrid Conciliar Seminary (1991-1992); Normal School of Pisa (1999-2000); Institute of Religious Sciences of Trento (2002-2005) etc. He coordinated the commented translation of the Septuagint within the framework of New Europe College (8 volumes; Polirom, 2002-2011). Courses on the Orthodox tradition at the Dan Bernardino Institute of Venice. He elaborates a commented translation of the New Testament (6 published volumes; Vremea Publishing, Bucharest). Recent publications: The Angel on the Highway (Vremea, 2016); Gospel of Luke (Vremea, 2016); The Deeds of the Apostles (Vremea, 2017); Orthodoxy versus orthodoxy (Tracus Arte, 2016); Unlearnings (Tracus Arte, 2016); The Poet and the Prosecution. Baudelaire’s Trial and the 13 Indicted Poems (Tracus Arte, 2017) etc. He exhibited „Poems for Birds and Aliens” in several museums and libraries throughout Romania, including the National Library of Romania, Bucharest; the Brukenthal Museum, Sibiu; Pogor House, Iaşi; the „Dinicu Golescu” County Library, Piteşti. Additional information on the website www.cristianbadilita.ro and the blog http://adamantius1968.simplesite.com dedicated to fine arts works.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

The Art Conservation Support Association, in partnership with the Ion Luca CaragialeNational Theatre, has been running since September 25th, 2018 the Cultural Project Stepstowards the Revival of the Romanian Theatre Museum. * Within the project, a series ofactivities shall be carried out for both the general public of all ages and the specialists in thepreservation of the material cultural heritage.Between October 14 and December 14, 2018, the Tapestry foyer on the 1st floor of the NTB Grand Hall shall host three thematic exhibitions dedicated to some great actors who have marked the centennial history of the National Theatre: Aristide Demetriade, Ana Luca and IonPetrescu. These exhibitions can be seen by all the audiences who come every evening to NTB shows at the Grand Hall, by the participants on Monday’s guided tours, and by the specialists interested in the history of the Romanian theatre.Paintings, sculptures, graphics, costumes will be exhibited, photographs, objects and newdocuments (manuscript posters, archive images) that are part of the National Theatre Museumcollection. Some of these exhibits have undergone careful conservation-restoration interventions: as early as 2018, the restorer expert Dr. Aurelia Pomponiu restored some of the costumes from the NTB Museum collection and through the project Steps towards the Renaissance of theRomanian Theatre Museum, the restoration of oil painting works on canvas and drawings byrestorers Ioan Darida and Dana Postolache shall continue.The first of these micro-exhibitions shall be dedicated to the great actor Aristide Demetriade(1872-1930). There will be a painting signed by Iosif Iser and a bust signed by Corneliu Medrea,representing Aristide Demetriade in the role of Hamlet - who consecrated him as one of the great actors of his generation - costumes (from the roles of Hamlet and RuyBlas), vintage photographs, pieces of furniture. On the eve of the celebration of the Centenary of the Great Union on December 1st, the albumThe National Theatre of Bucharest during wartime (1916-1918), shall be released, authorVera Molea (theatre historian at the NTB Museum), ACS Publishing House. The work is theoutcome of the sustained effort of the author through documentation in the archives and thedetailed study of the documents held by the Museum of the Ion Luca Caragiale NationalTheatre, bringing together valuable documents and information disclosed to the readers for thefirst time. As of mid-October 2018, for two months, the foyer on the floor of the Grand Hall awaits you todiscover images from the history of Romanian theatre that you have never seen before and to be part of an important past that resonates in the topicality of theatrical art with whom you are familiar. We are waiting for you to take a few steps on the corridors of cultural memory, discovering, for a start ... the hidden museum! *The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Identity within the CulturalProgramme dedicated to the Romanian Centenary (1918-2018) and the First World War.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

On Tuesday, 11th September 2018, from 7:00 p.m., the Rotonda Hall of the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest shall host the opening of the exhibition Textile Arts Days, Bucharest, second edition, 2018. The exhibition, which shall mark the reopening of the NTB exhibition season, shall unite works signed by 19 artists with the specialties tapestry, printery, fashion and textile object. The artists participating in this edition are: Marijana Bițulescu, Sergiu Chihaia, Gabriela Cristu Sgrabură, Gabriela Drăghici, Răzvan Dumitran,  Constantina Dumitru, Daniela Frumușeanu, George Gogescu, Irina Hasnaș Hubbard, May Oana Isar, Ruxandra Sibil Mermeze, Mihai Moldovanu, Ruxandra Ștefana Munteanu, Claudia Mușat, Cela Neamțu, Dan Roșeanu, Oana Roșca, Ileana Ștefănescu, Răzvan Vasilescu, Victoria Zidaru. What is the difference between tapestry and upholstery? How can textile artworks contribute to the embellishment of our homes? And especiallyWhat does is mean to be fashionable and why is fashion an art? How is a fashion designer born? – here are a few questions to which the NTB exhibition organisers try to offer concrete answers. This exhibition launches at the same time the second edition of the Open Days of the Textile Arts Workshops, an event organised within the Cultural Project Contemporaries, offering a new chance to the audience to get acquainted with art and representative Romanian visual artists, with the specialty textiles. On the weekends 15 / 16 and 22 / 23 September 2018, in the time frame 12:00 - 20:00, the creative spaces for tapestry, printery, embroidery, fashion or textile object! A rare opportunity to receive explanations and to witness specific working techniques. Information on the event, as well as the addresses of the artists’ workshops are available on the website www.ateliere.net or in the Smartphone application Workshops, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play platforms. Audience access is free of charge. The NTB exhibition is organised within the Cultural Project Contemporaries, in partnership with the Mayoralty of the Bucharest Municipality through CREART and NTB and can be visited in the time frame 11 September – 11 October 2018, in the interval 14:00 – 19:00, except for Mondays. The audience’s access to the hall is made from the entrance to the NTB Small Hall, from Carol Blvd.

Kabuki Actors and Theatre Scenes - from the George Şerban Collection at the National Theatre of Bucharest   The first Romanian exhibition of Japanese prints from the 18th and 19th centuries, with Kabuki theatre actors and scenes, originating from a private collection. A curatorial selection of more than 140 Japanese prints from the 18th and 19th centuries, originating from the George Şerban private collection, is presented for the first time to the Romanian audience at the National Theatre of Bucharest (NTB) on June 12, 2018. The exhibition shall be followed by the release of a dedicated album. George Şerban's collection of prints contains over 1,000 works by over 50 Japanese artists from the 17th century on, continuing with the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibition is organized by the Şerban and Associates Law Office in partnership with the National Theatre of Bucharest. The Kabuki Theatre has been the favourite subject of the major Japanese art schools in their history, which you will find in the exhibition, as well as in the ensuing album, as follows: Torii School, 18th century: initiated by Kiyomoto, but actually founded by Kiyonobu (1664-1729). Members were Kiyomas (1696-1716), Kiyonobu II (active between 1740-1755), Kiyohiro (active from 1750-1766), Kiyonaga (1752-1815), as one of the most famous, Kiyomine (1796 -1868), Kiyotsune (active between 1764-1770), Kiyotada (1715-1740) and Kiyoshige (1720-1760). Katsukawa School, founded by Shunsho (1726-1793), represented by Shunei (1768-1819), Shunko (1760-1827), Shun'ei (1770-1820) and Shunsen (active between 1800-1823). Saraku (active in 1794) produced about 140 works, most portraits of actors (no other data are known about him) The Utagawa School, founded by Toyoharu (1733-1814), was asserted by Toyokuni (1769-1825), Kunimasa (active in the period 1722-1810), Kunihisa (active from 1840-1860), Kuniyasu (approx. 1800-1830), Toyomaru (approx. 1758-1815), Kunisada (1786-1865) and Kuniyoshi (1797-1861): Chikanobu , Hiroshige, Kunisada II, Kunisada III, Kuniyoshi, Sadatora, Toyokuni I, Toyokuni III, Yoshitaki, Yoshitora. Each of the artists above is dedicated an exhibition area that contains, besides original works, a dynamic presentation with details of works and presentation information on the 8 monitors that surround the exhibition space. During the exhibition, the Yamamoto Theatre of Osaka shall have a representation in NTB Studio Hall on 19th June 2018. The George Serban collection comprises three main directions: modern and contemporary Romanian art, European art and Japanese art. The Japanese Print Exhibition - actors and scenes of the Kabuki Theater - from the George Serban Collection at the National Theater of Bucharest announces at the same time a future series of exhibitions dedicated to Japanese art on various subjects or artists.   Opening: Tuesday 12 June 2018, 6 pm The exhibition is open: 12 June - 1 July 2018 National Theater of Bucharest - Foyers of the Studio Hall Curator: Cosmin Nasui Researchers and documentarists: Alina Cretu, Alina Şerban, Alexandra Jianu  Exhibition design and architecture Rizi Design Restorer: Eugen Costache Sponsor: Serban Lawyers' Association and Associates The album accompanying the exhibition is published at PostModernism Museum Publishing. A limited edition of 50 albums will be produced, accompanied by original prints.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

Wristwatch exhibition created by designer Augustin Matei On Thursday, 17th May 2018, from 7.00 p.m., the foyer of the NTB Grand Hall, on the ground floor, shall host the opening of a completely unusual exhibition: in specially arranged showcases, you shall be able to admire a series of unique wristwatches, created by designer Augustin Matei, whose fame has already crossed the borders of Romania. „My watches are totally atypical, because their dials use interesting materials, such as stone, lunar or Martian meteorite pieces. Furthermore, their starting points are customized concepts. I have created a watch dedicated to His Royal Highness, King Michael I of Romania, a watch recounting the Apollo space programme, etc. In the NTB exhibition, I shall feature a watch dedicated to the Centenary of the Great Union. The watch has a slate dial, with a large encryption of the number 100. Therefore, I have also entitled the exhibition Written in Stone” – specifies the author. Entrance is free. The public access is made through the main entrance of the NTB Grand Hall, from 2 Bălcescu Blvd. The exhibition can be visited until the end of May, daily from 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m., except for Mondays.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu

The Exhibition Second Degree Sculpture @ the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest An Event by The Contemporaries, signed by Mircea Roman and Aurel Vlad   On Tuesday, 15th May 2018, from 6:30 p.m., the Rotunda of the Ion Luca Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest shall host the opening and launch of the catalogue to the exhibition Second Degree Sculpture, bringing into the fore two sculptors, some of the major Romanian artists, Mircea Roman and Aurel Vlad, organisers: the Contemporaries Cultural Project and NTB, co-organiser the Romanian Cultural Institute.  Open to the public for four months, at the 0 km of Bucharest, the exhibition reconciles two artistic representations of Power with a high level of expressiveness. Second Degree Sculpture is organised in the spirit of the acknowledgement of Romanian values, of personalities registering performance on the cultural field and representing Romania with excellence at the most important manifestations of international culture. In the opening, Ion Caramitru, director general of NTB, Adriana Popescu, director for communication and international relations at NTB and Maria Pașc, Contemporaries Project, shall take the floor. This exhibition event is achieved with the support of Apulum – the Porcelain Factory Alba Iulia, Dedeman, Titan Mar, the Sâmburești Domains and Aqua Carpatica. The exhibition Second Degree Sculpture shall be open to the public until 10th September 2018 and can be visited daily from 2.00 – 7.00 p.m., except for Mondays. The audience’s access to the exhibition Rotunda is made through the entrance to the NTB Small Hall, from Carol Blvd. Entrance is free. The Contemporaries Cultural Project is initiated and developed by the Făuritori Association, which aims at capitalizing contemporary Romanian culture, by favouring the creative act, approached from a unitary perspective with the creator. The project is aimed at the organisation and support of artistic and socio-cultural activities, for educating the audience’s aesthetic sensibility.   About the exhibiting artists: Mircea Roman (born 1958, Băiuț, Maramureș). In 1984, he graduated from the courses of the Ion Andreescu Fine Arts Academy of Cluj, sculpture department. Awards and distinctions: 1988 – Atelier 35 Award Bucharest; 1992 – Grand Prize of the Osaka Triennial for Sculpture; 1993/1994 - Delphine Studio scholarship, London; 2000 – decorated with the National Order Christian Service to the rank of Officer; 2008 – Gold Medal of the Visual Artists’ Union of the Republic of Moldova. He is a member of the Visual Artists’ Union of Romania and since 2016 president of the sculpture branch of the Visual Artists’ Union of Romania. In 2017, he received the Award of the Visual Artists’ Union of Romania for Sculpture. Aurel Vlad (born 1954, Galați). In 1984, he graduated from the Nicolae Grigorescu Fine Arts Institute, sculpture department. Since 2005, he has been a PhD in Fine Arts and university professor at the National Arts University of Bucharest. Awards and distinctions: 1986 - Dimitrie Paciurea scholarship; 1990 – Award for Sculpture of the Visual Artists’ Union of Romania; 1998 – Grand Prize of the Bucharest Municipality Salon; 2000 – National Merit Order to the rank of Commander; 2002 - Ion Andreescu Award of the Romanian Academy for sculpture; 2003 – Third Prize of the International Sculpture Symposium of Fuente Palmera, Spain; 2009 – Constantin Brâncuși Grand Prize, Painting Biennial, Sculpture, Arad; 2010 - Constantin Brâncuși Grand Prize - Painting Biennial, Sculpture, Timișoara; 2011 – Excellence Diploma and Cultural Prize of the George Apostu Cultural Centre, Bacău; 2014 – Award for excellence in art, offered by the Visual Artists’ Union of Romania; 2016 - Constantin Brâncuși Prize, awarded by M.L.N.R. and the Romanian Academy. Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

Private event hosted by the National Theatre of Bucharest. The organiser is exclusively liable for the quality and content of this event! Over 80 contemporary jewelry designers from 5 continents, selected by a super creative international jury. Once a year in Bucharest for two days. Effervescent atmosphere in a sensational venue. The only opportunity of this kind throughout South East Europe! It is the moment to choose a piece of jewelry, which represents you, Jewelry in ACTion! Sounds good for your agenda?                                                 5-6 May 2018, National Theatre of Bucharest, Grand Hall foyer, #AUTORfair Tickets are available on www.eventim.ro

A new photography exhibition, entitled Picture Lane shall be varnished on Thursday, 19th April 2018 at 6.00 p.m., in the Media Foyer (Intercontinental wing) of the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre, within the framework of the NTB – Paratheatrical -Visual Arts programme. The exhibits represent a selection of photos taken throughout a year of activity by the members of the PhotoMeeting group, launched by photographer Florian Gîndilă and supported by: Club Fabrica, Graphis Advertising, Litera Publishing, Camere Digitale. The PhotoMeeting project was born from the love for photography, exactly one year ago, aiming at organising meetings where various photographic exercises are presented and experimented. At the same time, the stimulation of networking, of evasion from the online environment into a space as real and as natural as possible is pursued. Currently, the group consists of over 300 members, from Bucharest and other Romanian cities, aged between 14 and 54 . ”We celebrate one year of photography, creativity and networking. A year in which we have gathered every Thursday, in order to put into practice photographic exercises, in order to discuss and experiment different segments of this common passion. A year in which we have grown together from one meeting to another, we have learnt how to communicate, to help each other and work as a team. A year in which friendships have been built, experiences in a field have been shared and images have been created. We wish for this exhibition to become an annual one and, not last, we also wish to organise charitable exhibitions, in order to support different social projects” declares the group initiator. The photo exhibition Picture Lane shall be open in the time frame 19 - 30 April 2018.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu   

  On Tuesday, 27th February 2018, from 6.00 p.m., the foyer to the Media Hall shall host the opening of the painting and photo collage exhibition Conversion, signed by artist Daniel Zlota. The exhibition is created by means of the photographs signed by: Vlad Eftenie, Miluța Flueraș, Radu Gasler, Zoltan Marton, Dan Mirică, Ruxandra Ana Mirică, Sorin Onișor, Adrian Petrișor, Crina Popescu, Cătălin Urdoi, Liviu Octavian Vasile, Mihnea Turcu. The exhibition can be visited in the time frame 27 February – 3 April 2018, whereas admission is free! About Daniel Zlota   Born in 1985, the artist studied at "Gheorghe Tattarescu" School of Fine Arts in Focsani (Romania), discovering his passion for painting under the guidance of painters Doina Lupascu and Laurentiu Paun. Later he graduated Interior Design at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest. Meanwhile he continued to experiment and combine techniques such as watercolor, pencil, coal, pastel and collage, constantly developing his painting skills including within architectural projects, taking part of personal and collective exhibitions.  Starting from 2012, the artist combines photorealism with abstract painting, being inspired among other artists by the work of Castagnet, Zbugvic, Pekel, etc. thus developing his unique plastic expression style passionately shared with art aficionados. His works are in personal collections all around the world: United States, Mexico, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania.

On the occasion of the National Culture Day 2018, the International Salon of Naïve Art, cultural project developed by the National Heritage Institute, in partnership with the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, shall be open to the public, on Monday, 15th January 2018, in the time frame 10.30. – 18.30. The international naïve art exhibition can be visited at the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, in the Rotunda of the Small Hall foyer (access from Carol Blvd.), where famous naïve artists from Finland, Germany, Italy, Israel, Serbia and Romania shall exhibit.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu