Eight exhibitions to see in Bucharest this spring
From watercolors included in an art book project commissioned by Prince Charles to Romania-born French artists and corporate collections of contemporary art, here is what some of the exhibitions ongoing in Bucharest cover.<o:p></o:p>
RI Newsroom · Journalist
· Updated · 7 min read
From watercolors included in an art book project commissioned by Prince Charles to Romania-born French artists and corporate collections of contemporary art, here is what some of the exhibitions ongoing in Bucharest cover.
Wildflowers of Romania – A Botanical History
This exhibition aims to bring to wider public attention botanical art, a type of art at the borderline between aesthetics and science. Curated by Irina Neacșu, it brings together paintings from the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania, watercolors from the museum of the D. Brandza Botanical Garden in Bucharest along some of the prints published as part of the Transylvania Florilegium art book.
The works of Romanian painters such as Nicolae Grigorescu, Ștefan Luchian, Theodor Pallady, Nicolae Tonitza, Theodor Aman, Eustațiu, Stoenescu, Samuel Mützner, Alexandru Ciucurencu and Ion Țuculescu, alongside those of Angiolina Santocono, one of the first botanical artists in Romania, whose works formed the basis of the Botanical Museum of the Bucharest Botanical Garden. While the painters use the flowers to explore color or contrasts, botanical artists focus on their accurate rendition, while bringing a touch of grace to their works.
Visitors of the exhibition can also see selected watercolors from the Transylvania Florilegium, a project initiated by Prince Charles of Wales documenting the wild flora of Transylvania. The works belong to 35 botanical artists from around the world. The Florilegium is the result of a study effort of almost six years, bringing together biologists and botanical artists from around the world. Over 70 artists, designers and craftsmen were involved in the production of the album, which captures the richness of Romania’s natural patrimony and promotes nature conservation.
April 12 - May 5, Wednesday to Sunday, at the National Museum of Art of Romania (MNAR).
Eli Lotar (1905 - 1969)
French photographer and cinematographer Eli Lotar is probably not as known in Romania as his father, poet Tudor Arghezi, is. However, this exhibition can change this as it sets about to showcase his work and retrace his contribution to the Parisian avant-garde at the beginning of the 20th century.
Lotar was born in Paris but was raised in Romania. He returned to the “city of lights” in 1924 and had his photos published in avant-garde magazines such as VU, Jazz and Arts et métiers graphiques. He also participated in major international exhibitions such as Film und Foto, Fotografie der Gegenwart and Documents de la vie sociale.
His photos and films capture the Parisian night-life with backstage images of the Blackbirds shows featuring Afro-American dancers, the grim atmosphere of hospitals and slaughter houses, urban landscapes of cities demolished during the Second World War as well as Mediterranean landscapes, archaeological sites in Greece, or secluded areas of Spain. Pursuing his interest in cinema, Lotar took part beginning with 1929 in making documentary films and worked with filmmakers such as Joris Ivens or Luis Buñuel. After the war, in 1945, he made
