ULU | contemporary art is an exhibition that imagines the framework for a new contemporary art institution in Iasi, the second largest city in Romania. The project is part of the Friends of the Divided Mind exhibition organised by the graduating students of MA Curating Contemporary Art at the Royal College of Art.
Friends of the Divided Mind asks the following questions: What do we actually expect from an art institution? What do we want an institution to stand for? What desires does an art institution produce?
ULU | contemporary art will operate as a fiction, setting up its preliminary home in the Henry Moore galleries. The gallery's staff will operate under working hours, and the exhibition will present the context specific research and also works by Romanian and international artists Vincent Faciu (Romanian born, based in Munich), Dan Acostioaei (Iasi, Romania), Lee Kit (Hong Kong), Cezar Lazarescu (Iasi, Romania) and Antoina Hirsch (Berlin/Vancouver).
ULU | contemporary art is directed by Preeti Kathuria, Jesse McKee and Livia Pancu.
Dan Acostioaei (born and based in Iasi) uses frames of Romanian transition to a capitalist society in order to expose different links or clichés settled by social, political or cultural processes.
Vincent Faciu (born in Bucharest and based in Munich) explores the relationship with his home country, and the ways in which it is imagined for him from childhood, contrasted with its current reality.
Cezar Lazarescu (born and based in Iasi) describes his artistic practice as follows: "using incredibly simple means (sometimes exclusively conceptual), I try to go beyond the intellectual stereotypes, being aware that I both can use and be used."
When: 18-29 March 2009; Private view: 17 March, 7 pm
Where: Royal College of Art Galleries, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU
Admission: free.
