The Romanian Poster in the ’90s

THE ROMANIAN POSTER IN THE ’90s

October 24–December 7, 2024

opening: October 24, 18:00–21:00
visiting hours: THU–FRI, 16:00–20:00 & with programming

The Institute of the Present
Erou Ion Călin 19, Bucharest

The Institute of the Present opens to the public for viewing an ongoing research project dedicated to The Romanian Poster in the ’90s. The project proposes an archival path dedicated to the evolution of the cultural and artistic scene in Romania after 1989 from the perspective of the type of visual communication and message disseminated through the poster. The poster is not only a tool for specific and targeted promotion to certain categories of the public, but also an observational document through which we can detect a series of themes, issues and discourses that circulated at a given time in the local cultural context. In this case, the research undertaken in various institutional and private archives presents a series of posters made in the 1990s (mainly by visual artists), joining them in the format of a documentary exhibition in the space of The Institute of the Present in Bucharest, offering visitors the opportunity to observe the dynamics of the cultural field in those years, the varied ensemble of concerns and artistic or curatorial directions.

The posters are the products of a context, they also constitute a form of visualisation of some stages, of development or regression. Beyond the communication logic, the specific design that contributes to the promotion of an event, the poster should not be seen as a simple collateral object, on the contrary. The interest of this small-scale initiative of The Institute of the Present is to follow the evolution of this medium in direct relation to the evolution of society, of the Romanian artistic context after 1989, and with the completion of the next stages of the project, the approach will take on a printed form.

During the exhibition The Romanian Poster in the ’90s visitors may also watch the Parkour interview series dedicated to the 1990s featuring Judit Angel, Teodor Graur, Iosif Király, Dan Mihălțianu, Dan Perjovschi, Lia Perjovschi and Marginalii Group, while on November 28, The Institute of the Present space will host an intervention by sound artist Maria Balabaș.

The exhibition is open between October 24–December 7, 2024, Thursdays and Fridays, between 16:00-20:00, on the occasion of special events and with programming on whatsup at +40 740 300 124 or ip@institutulprezentului.ro.

The Romanian Poster in the ’90s
a project by The Institute of the Present (Alina Șerban & Ștefania Ferchedău)
text by Alina Șerban
visuals by Ioana Petcu

Partners: National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest; National Peasant Museum, Bucharest
Sources/Archives: National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest; The Image Archive of the National Peasant Museum, Bucharest; kinema ikon/ Călin Man; Adriana Popescu’s archive and the National Theatre Bucharest archive; Galeria Plan B, Dan Mihălțianu, Dan Perjovschi
Acknowledgements: Serioja Bocsok, Călin Dan, Sandra Demetrescu, Alex Oberlander, Miklos Onucsan, Adriana Oprea, Iris Șerban

IP—The Institute of the Present is a research and an artist resource platform in the field of visual and performing culture conceived by Ștefania Ferchedău and Alina Șerban.

Event part of “The Back Room”, cultural project co-funded by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. The project does not necessarily represent the standpoint of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN cannot be held liable for the content of the project or the manner in which the outcomes of the project may be used. These shall devolve entirely on the beneficiary of the financing.