Biju Gallery in Cluj-Napoca presents the group exhibition Dream Not of Today, curated by Ada Muntean. The exhibition project brings together the artistic practices of eight young artists: Mirela Moscu, Miriam Farcaș, Oana Cervinschi, David Horvath, Hortensia Mi Kafchin, Alexandra Mureșan, Ioana Iacob, Luana Cloșcă.
Dream Not of Today “gravitates around an interpreted figurative, imagining personal shapes of the universe. The phrase dream not of today can be interpreted as a memento that underlines the importance of not being engrossed by the present and of imagining a better future – characterized by a continuous evolution. In Einstein’s theory of relativity, time is regarded as a phenomenon which can vary depending on the viewer’s speed and gravity force. Thus, there is no “absolute present” equally valuable for everyone, indifferent to their location and moving speed.
In a more general sense, the present we pass through is uncertain and socially, politically and economically troubled. The key word, insinuating itself within this volatile context, is the crisis, and it unravels over many bearings of our contemporary existence, being mainly a crisis of the landmarks structuring our lives. Although a cliché, the act of creation can be viewed as an escapist activity and its final product as an alternative window we decide to open towards a reality we tolerate with increasing difficulty. Dream Not of Today is, in fact, an emblematic quote from the sci-fi series Star Trek, with meanings that can be developed widely, becoming starting points in distinctive artistic approaches both aesthetically and conceptually.
In the Star Trek universe, the worlds of the future are shaped around the concept of cohesion, exploring images and ideas of what the future of humanity and the universe could look like, considering technological, social and cultural progress. Thus, the visions of the future are usually optimistic, reflecting a world in which humanity has overcome internal conflicts and has managed to collaborate with other species of the galaxy in a society built on exploration, understanding, and peace.
Visual art is not only a shelter for imagination but also a way to ask profound questions about humanity, ethics and man’s place in the universe. The exhibition Dream Not of Today becomes a metaphorical invitation to look beyond the immediate present and a perceptual challenge to visualize alternative windows into possible realities.” Ada Muntean
The exhibition can be visited until May 2, 2025.
