A creative and systematic character, preoccupied with the mathematical configuration of form and its transformation, Laurențiu Ruță (1955, Biled) has his own place in the history of experimental photography in Romania. In this interview, the artist is revisiting the journey of his formation—found under the auspices of the Timișoara Art Lyceum in the 1970s and of the alternative events held within Atelier 35 from Cluj during the 1980s. Disclosing the unexpected experiences arising from his encounter with photography, Laurențiu Ruță analyses the specific relations entailed by the photographic images resulting from the pursued type of intervention and working process. The singular and open spirit of his art is reflected by his interest in long periods of testing certain principles which govern the game of geometrical forms, as well as by its epiphanic nature. From stroboscopic experiments to those which expose the surface of the photosensitive paper to the organic movements of water structured through sound vibrations, Ruță stops to ponder on the context of life and personal artistic quest which made him conceive the emblematic action entitled The Performance, within the Colloquium of Art and Criticism of Young Art from Sibiu from 1986.
Interview: Alina Șerban
Artworks & archive: © Laurențiu Ruță
Photographs: Diana Țuculescu, Radu Igazság
Cluj, 2022
Camera & video editing: Dan Iordache
Subtitles: Diana Bularca
Music: Lucian Mețianu, Pythagoreis, 1970
Parkour & IP visual identity: Radu Manelici
Parkour Video visuals: Sebastian Pren
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Film produced in the frame of the projects “Uncensored Act” and “Collegium”. With support from Quadro Gallery.
The project is part of the national cultural programme “Timișoara—European Capital of Culture in the year 2023” and is funded by the Municipality of Timișoara, through the Center for Projects. 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.