The contemporary art gallery META Spațiu from Timișoara is expanding its network of international connections, thus connecting the Timișoara cultural scene with the artistic scene in Vienna. Loredana Nedelcu and Marina Paladi, two young curators of the META Spațiu team, made a working visit to Vienna for a series of cultural exchanges and professional meetings aimed at expanding the links between the cultural spheres of the two cities. The visit was made with the support of the Timișoara Project Center through the Power Station++ | program Mobility for professionals in the cultural sector.
During their stay in Vienna, Loredana Nedelcu and Marina Paladi participated in a series of interdisciplinary activities to create a network of connections and explore new curatorial, architectural, and artistic practices. The professional trip consisted of visits to independent cultural organizations such as pogmahon.company and Eindorf, where they met and worked with local cultural professionals.
pogmahon.company, founded in 2000, is an independent public domain art agency based in Vienna and working internationally. His work is inspired by the power of art to enrich people’s experience and to raise their awareness and attention to social issues. Loredana Nedelcu and Marina Paladi participated in working sessions with the organization’s founder, Denise Parizek, who has over 20 years of experience in the development of exhibition projects, where they discussed curatorial and cultural project management strategies, promoting artists and obtaining funding to support the activity in the field of contemporary art.
The young professionals got to know the organization’s interdisciplinary practice, which incorporates art with various disciplines, such as science, architecture, activism, performance, and design. These meetings resulted in the accumulation of pertinent knowledge about new contemporary practices and new types of consulting services in the field of art, as well as opening up potential collaborations for META Spațiu.
Eindorf, a dynamic center for contemporary art, gave Loredana Nedelcu and Marina Paladi an overview of experimental practices and the condition of artists outside traditional institutional frameworks. During the meetings with Guadelupe Aldrete, the president of Eindorf, they discussed the importance of creating spaces for artistic experimentation and dialogue, both locally and internationally. Thanks to the collaboration between Eindorf and the Klima Biennale, Loredana Nedelcu had the opportunity to participate in the Klima Biennale program in Vienna as part of the implementation team and as a cultural mediator during the opening weekend and the first week of the program.
Klima Biennale is an event of great proportions that promotes the paradigm shift for a sustainable future of our planet through art. The biennale integrates an interdisciplinary practice in the fight against the ecological crisis, bringing together artists, architects, scientists, researchers and designers. Through exposure to the new practices of architecture, design and climate justice, Loredana Nedelcu acquired valuable knowledge and experiences that will significantly contribute to implementing and diversifying future projects at META Spațiu.
Marina Paladi has explored and researched the Vienna artistic community to connect artists from the two cities, involving workshop visits and in-depth discussions with artists such as Hubert Hasler, Paula Flores, Eva Schartmueller and Katrina Daschner. These interactions facilitated the exchange of creative ideas and laid the foundations for potential collaborations between artists from Timișoara and Vienna. By encouraging these connections, Paladi has contributed to creating a bridge between the cultural scenes between Vienna and Timișoara, transcending geographical borders. This not only facilitated the promotion of local artists but also strengthened the role of META Spațiu as a facilitator of international artistic dialogue and cooperation.
This working visit further strengthens the connection between Timișoara and the cultural context of Vienna with the support of the Timișoara Project Center. By promoting collaboration and continuous exchange, META Spațiu Gallery aims to encourage artistic and curatorial diversity and intensify interdisciplinary collaborations. Furthermore, efforts to connect the cultural landscapes of Timișoara and Vienna extend beyond individual projects; it embodies a long-term vision of building sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships.
Cover photo: Talk with the curators of the central exhibition at the Kilma Biennale
The mobility is part of the national cultural program “Timișoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023” and is financed by the Power Station++ program, run by the Timișoara Project Center, with amounts allocated from the state budget, through the funding from the Ministry of Culture.
