Romania's National Culture Day was celebrated by the Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing through the organization of a contemporary art exhibition titled "A Glimpse of Disconnection," created by visual artist Dani Ghercă and complemented by a neoclassical music concert by composer Mischa Blanos. The opening ceremony took place on Saturday, January 13, starting at 7:00 PM, at the renowned Choi Centre in Beijing. The exhibition "A Glimpse of Disconnection" featured a selection of 15 works with aerial photographs of cityscapes from various metropolises around the world, created by Dani Ghercă in the USA and China, between 2020 and the present.
The images were printed on a large scale and displayed in different parts of the Choi Centre, both on plexiglass and glass, and collectively titled "The Long Way Home – The Blue Way, The Red Way, The Yellow Way," etc. They capture the city in a cold light, reduced to data, offering an illusion of connectivity and projecting deepfake dreams.
Dani Ghercă (1988, Bucharest), one of the best Romanian visual artists of his generation, uses photography in a conceptual manner. He has completed postgraduate studies at HISK in Belgium, and holds a bachelor's and master's degree from UNARTE in Bucharest.
Alongside the exhibition, the documentary "Călin Dan and Dani Ghercă about the exhibition 'A Glimpse of Disconnection'" (2023, 1h55), made by Dan Iordache, was projected.
The opening of the exhibition was marked by a short speech by H.E. Mr. Dan-Horia Maxim, the Ambassador of Romania to the People's Republic of China, followed by Gilbert Choy, director of the K.S. Choi Foundation, Mr. Liviu Taranu, director of ICR Beijing, Dani Ghercă and Mischa Blanos, and Prof. Xinduo Li, the curator of the exhibition. The event was presented by the main public relations officer, Andreea-Ema Stoian, with translation provided by Liu Yizhe.
This was followed by an extraordinary 40-minute neoclassical music concert performed by Mischa Blanos, ending in a round of applause from the guests. Mischa Blanos innovatively used the piano, collaborating with synthesizers, integrating organic grooves, and presenting surprising musical arrangements that metaphorically explored the urban landscape and invited the audience to reflect on the pandemic's impact on culture and social life.
Sponsored by the Jonathan K.S. Choi Foundation, in partnership with the French Embassy in China and the clusters of Cultural Institutes from the European Union (EUNIC), the Choi Centre is the former residence and art studio of Mr. Huang Rui, founder of the famous 798 Art District, a seminal Chinese artist closely associated with contemporary art in China. The Choi Centre hosts numerous exhibitions, performances, and other cultural activities annually, promoting cooperation between different forms of art and international cultures.
The event was honored by the presence of He Yunchang, the most important contemporary Chinese artist, three ambassadors (Romania, Moldova, and Albania), representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomats, art critics, and university professors from the Institute of Photography and Digital Arts, China Academy of Art, Faculty of Architecture and Art, Beijing Jiaotong University, China Women's College, Beijing Film Academy, Faculty of Arts, Beijing Normal University, etc., and over 200 other guests.
The event also enjoyed the support of journalists from 人民日报 (People's Daily), Romanian Service, China Radio International, China Xinhua News, China Daily, The Beijinger, The European Times, etc.
"A Glimpse of Disconnection" reflects the current transition to a new phase of human consciousness and the impact of technology on our self-perception, our relationships with others, and the environment, offering the Chinese public an immersion into contemporary Romanian culture.
The exhibition can be visited from January 13-29, 2024, between 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, at the Choi Centre.
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