The TWIST: Five Provincial Stories from an Empire

Concept: Călin Dan / Curators: Călin Dan and Celia Ghyka

The TWIST: Five Provincial Stories from an Empire is a trans-disciplinary exhibition, based on the geological, topographical, morphological, and geopolitical evidence provided by the triangular region called the Romanian Banat, where the curators identified several elements characteristic to the historical trajectory of this cultural construction: the twist, the conversion, the comeback—that may all be related to Plato’s concept of “turning around of the soul” (defined in “The Republic”). The TWIST surveys the visual wingspan of the topic, examining how various motifs of the “turning around” are reflected in the cultural practices of that specific region. The format is an essay-type exhibition, where the coexistence of genres, techniques, and historical periods are assembled into a complex, multi-layered installation.

Based on vast research of historical, bibliographical, visual, and literary sources, and of the heritage preserved in the public and private collections from the region, The TWIST covers an interval starting from pre-Roman and Roman antiquity, reaching into post-WW2 modernity, and groups together, in unconventional associations, archeological, ethnographic, decorative arts, apparel, domestic, and mass-produced objects, with artworks created in the 20th and 21st centuries.

The show gathers a large number of artefacts, displayed in an original, custom-designed architectural setting. The pieces were selected according to various criteria, ranging from iconographical (spiral, twist, intersection), functional (column, vault, door, hinge, wheel, clock, compass) to actions that may be utilitarian (mowing, weaving, twisting, sifting, sowing, milling, lathe working), ritualistic (dancing, praying, drumming, magical conjuring), ontological (conversion, resurrection, transfiguration, recovery, repetition), and political (exodus, immigration, redemption, penance, revenge).

The narrative threads of this visual and poetical journey suggest a reading through five layers that establish various links, some more apparent than others: protohistory (archaeological and geological pieces), pre-modernity (etnographic, vernacular pieces), a locally crafted modernity (household inventory, fashion, furniture, industry), above history (immaterial heritage, such as music or poetry) and the now (contemporary art). 

The Twist, spiritual but also morphological, is indeed the identifying mark of a surprisingly large number of Romanian contemporary artists. Works by Horia Bernea, Ștefan Bertalan, Ion Condiescu, Roman Cotoșman, Cristian Dițoiu, Constantin Flondor, Dani Ghercă, Ion Grigorescu, Ana Maria Micu, Ciprian Mureșan, Paul Neagu, Sorin Neamțu, Mihai Olos, Șerban Savu, Liviu Stoicoviciu, Napoleon Tiron, and Bogdan Vlăduță will complete by contrast this cultural itinerary delivered in a site-specific installation.

Călin Dan, a graduate of art history and theory works as an artist, writer and curator. He reached international recognition as a member of the group subREAL, and independently with the long term projects Emotional Architecture, Anturaju’ and Other Stories and Collective Authorship. Since 2014 he is director of the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Bucharest.

Celia Ghyka is an independent curator, architectural theorist, researcher and academic based in Bucharest. Adept in organising events, curating exhibitions, writing and managing cultural projects, as well as editorial work and cultural diplomacy, she worked in Luxembourg and Romania, and participated in international curatorial groups. Alumna of the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles (2019), New Europe College in Bucharest (2002, 2012-2013), Fondazione Bogliasco (2021), editor for the journal Studies in History and Theory of Architecture.

Kunsthalle Bega is an alternative and experimental space founded in Timisoara (Romania) in 2019, where contemporary art is thought, discussed and exhibited. Dedicated especially to young artists from Romania and the world, Kunsthalle Bega is aesthetically and socially interested in the platforms of contemporary art museums. Every year, following consultations with a specialised jury, it offers an award—the Bega Art Prize—to a Romanian curator under the age of 40 who has managed to change the rules of curatorial perception.

Kunsthalle Bega is a project of Calina Foundation initiated by Alina Cristescu, Liviana Dan and Bogdan Rața, together with Andreea Drăghicescu and Ugron Lajos.

TEAM: Alina Cristescu, Vlad Cîndea, Andreea Drăghicescu, Loredana Ilie, Gavril Pop, Bogdan Rața, Andreea Tiriplică, Lajos Ugron, Sorin Ștefan Valea

For more information about Kunsthalle Bega, please click here.

Contact us: Andreea Drăghicescu, andreea [​at​] kunsthallebega.ro

The project is part of the National Cultural Program “Timișoara - European Capital of Culture in 2023” and is financed by the Inside Timișoara 2023 program, run by Timișoara Center for Projects.