Chemare // Calling - A Living Archive of Freedom and Migration

Chemare // Calling is an artistic project that presents a cumulative exhibition in a "laboratory exhibition" format, unfolding across Romania, Moldova, Poland, and Italy. Curated by Weronika Kobylinska and Ioana Marinescu, the project serves as a dynamic and evolving platform where each stage contributes new perspectives and cultural layers.

Rooted in the visual exploration of freedom initiated by artists Alexandra Dumitrescu and Ana-Cristina Irian in the international project Freedom. Body. Resistance—funded by the Cantemir program—this initiative investigates the longing for the "calling" that many Romanians awaited during the Ceaușescu regime. From this historical point of departure, the project expands into an exploration of the socio-political and metaphysical meanings of "calling" in today's world.

At its core, Chemare // Calling aims to create a transdisciplinary space for documenting and reinterpreting the profound significance of individual and collective freedom in relation to migration and travel, within different socio-political contexts.

Through cumulative exhibitions, participatory archives, performances, and the creation of a transdisciplinary guide for community-based work, the project captures past and present experiences related to migration and freedom, fostering intercultural dialogue between communities in Romania, Moldova, Poland, and Italy. This exchange is crucial for contextualizing and deepening our understanding of aspirations for liberation and authenticity, offering an innovative framework for reflecting on identity and freedom in contemporary society.

The materials collected will serve as research tools for sociologists, anthropologists, artists, and migration specialists, who will interpret these narratives in the context of modern society. These materials will be brought together in participatory installations, new media projects, and a digital participatory archive, ensuring that the voices and experiences of those involved are preserved and made accessible for future reflection and study.

Artists

Alexandra Dumitrescu is a visual artist with extensive experience in photography, image creation, video, community building, and cultural management, elements that shape a unique kind of artistic sensitivity. Her belief in the crucial role that art plays in improving quality of life and fostering community development is evident in her work and her holistic approach, which aims to nurture creativity and strengthen connections between people. Her aesthetic is minimalist and iconic, seeking the moment that tells a story in the fewest words with the maximum visual impact. For Alexandra, the hive-like community is as important as the role of the queen bee, where, both formally and symbolically, caring for the system takes precedence—even if, from the outside, it appears that she is merely leading it.
Ana-Cristina Irian is a research-based artist, visual arts researcher, and curator who works with collections, photographic archives, and multimedia materials. She studied sociology (Trento & Regensburg), and visual anthropology (Bucharest & Perugia), and holds a Ph.D. in visual arts from UNARTE Bucharest. Her artistic practice, guided by the motto “No one left behind”, focuses on objects of memory, integrating photographic material into contemporary art pieces. Cristina has participated in over 50 exhibitions in Romania and abroad, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, and Hungary. She is a member of Futures, the European Photography Platform, and the Romanian Fine Arts Union. She works on projects including visual documentation, identification, recovery, and promotion of cultural heritage, participatory documentary projects, and public art. Collaborations include “Dacia 50”, an ethnography of the Dacia car, “Fântânile Olteniei”, mapping community water wells, and “Arhive poVestite”, recovering private photographic archives (omnia.photo). She has published studies in the “Anthropology of East Europe Review”, Indiana University; “History of Communism in Europe”, IICCMER; “Studies and History Articles”, Romanian Society of Historical Sciences; “Revelar”, Universidade do Porto. She is also the author of the volumes “Photographic Collections and Archives Today, in the Digital World” (2022) and “The Production of Space and the Social Life of Artworks on the Streets.” (2024) published by Tritonic.

Curatorial team

Weronika Kobylińska is an art historian and curator specializing in modern and contemporary art, focusing on photography and intermedia practices. She is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Film at the Leon Schiller National Film, Television, and Theatre School in Łódź. She serves as President of the Archeology of Photography Foundation. Previously, she worked at the Institute of Art History at the University of Warsaw and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. She has also contributed as a guest lecturer at the Aleksander Brückner Center for Polish Studies. She has delivered talks at prestigious venues, including the Polish Association of Art Photographers and Warsaw University of Technology, highlighting her contributions to art and education.

Ioana Marinescu is an art historian and curator based in Bucharest. She completed her Ph.D. at the Bucharest National University of Arts in 2022, focusing on the biographies of artist couples. Since 2008, she has worked in art galleries, developing a passion for contemporary art. Ioana is currently a curator at The Old Maps Museum, where her expertise in art history and contemporary art helps bridge the gap between artists and the public, enriching the museum's mission. Ioana finds inspiration in the unique narratives of artist couples, believing each pair creates a distinct entity. She drew on the idea of investigating the merging of personal and professional lives to produce valuable cultural gems, despite inherent challenges.

The Visual Arts Forum (FAV)

Is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting national cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Its activities include organizing contemporary art exhibitions, festivals, artist residencies, creative workshops, literary events, and research projects. These initiatives take place in galleries, international venues, and alternative spaces, as well as in underprivileged communities and overlooked areas, aiming to reach a diverse and inclusive audience. FAV incorporates an ecological dimension in its projects, addressing environmental issues through art and engaging local communities, the private sector, and NGOs in cleanup actions, debates, and educational documentary screenings. With six years of experience, FAV has implemented numerous cultural projects, including the “Cinemascop Festival” (2018–present), “Eforie Colorat” series, “Art by the Sea”, “SeasideArchives,” and more. Collaborating with local and international artists, cultural institutions, and authorities, FAV has built a reputation for impactful and relevant cultural initiatives.

The Archeology of Photography Foundation (FAF)

Is involved in preserving Polish photographic heritage, managing the archives of seventeen renowned artists. FAF digitizes and archives collections organizes exhibitions, workshops, and conferences, and publishes academic works and photographic volumes. Its goal is to connect contemporary artists with historical archives, providing new perspectives on photography. FAF’s activities have been recognized by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and have been presented at Centre Pompidou, Musée de l’Elysée, and PhotoEspaña. The publication “Wojciech Zamecznik: Foto-grafie” won the best catalog award at The Paris Photo-Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards in 2016.

Organizer

Visual Art Forum (FAV)

Co-financier

Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) - The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or the way in which the project results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.