Alba Iulia is a 30 minute drive from Aiud. We went there yesterday, to see the sights before the opening of the solo exhibitions of three artists, Éva Andrea Szőcs (Hungary) & Georgiana Cozma (Romania) and Lojze Kalinsek (Slovenia) at the National Museum of Unification. This was part of the comprehensive programme set out for this camp – http://www.inter-art.ro/tabara2014/
Vanitatum Vanitas. Éva Andrea Szőcs (Hungary)
Éva’s works were highly conceptual, and in a very strong voice: razors and feathers, vanity of vanities. I got chills. Georgiana is my camp roommate. I was stunned by the beauty of her sculptural works. Black aggressivity is my favourite.
Black aggressivity. Georgiana Cozma (Romania)
Lojze’s 92-piece exhibit, titled ‘Myths and Legends’ just about took my breath away. They speak to Adam and Eve, The Muses, Europa and the Bull, among others. The highlight of the exhibit was the large 4-piece work depicting the rich landscape of the Slovenian countryside, from which Lojze’s stories grow, but in my opinion, it is his muses series that are the most spectacular.
Fisherman and the Muse. Lojze Kalinsek (Slovenia)
The spaces in the museum were well suited for these shows. Éva and Georgiana’s works were in two intimate rooms, which may once have been military dormitories. Upstairs, Lojze had the privilege of several airy connected spaces open to views of the old city. Ioan Hădărig, the artistic director of Inter-Art gave eloquent presentations on the artists, highlighting their achievements, both professional and at the camp. He also discussed the ideas behind their works on show.
Ioan Hădărig, Zoltan Balog and Suelin at Lojze’s exhibition. Photo Lojze Kalinsek
The Cetatea Alba Iulia, is a massive fortress built in the early 18th Century in the medieval town of Alba Iulia on Citadel Hill. On its grounds are an Orthodox Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church, a university, the National Museum of Unification, many other buildings, and several scatterings of bronze sculpture for visitors to interact with. In terms of scale, it occupies space equivalent to the original Queen’s Park, ie athletics stadium, National Stadium, the ring road, and possibly right up to the edge of D’arbeau Hill. The place is multi-levelled, with steps leading down, up and around. And when you get hot and tired, there are a line of caravans offering fresh squeezed juices, beer, water and ice cream. I had 2 small cones: chocolate and tiramisu. Not bad.
At the entrance to the fortress
Back in Aiud, after supper, many of us dragged ourselves back to the studio. Art camp has only just begun, but it feels already that there is not enough time to create and finish the 5 canvasses we have been given. In addition, there are side projects, sketches, studies, sudden burst of inspiration that divert, distract from the main event. These are my distractions, and works in progress.
My distractions
But then again the main event is to paint, to create, to share. And at minutes to midnight, when my eyes cross and the eyelids refuse the help of toothpicks, it is difficult to say what has been accomplished and what still has to be done. Sleep will help.
Work in progress… Jab Jab
Tomorrow the joy continues.