Between June 19 and July 5, IOMO Gallery presents the exhibition “Vulnerability is a brutal space”, a solo show by Beatrice Duman, curated by Anne-Marie Lolea.
‘‘Vulnerability is a brutal space brings together a new series of figurative paintings, within which Beatrice Duman constructs an emotionally charged visual universe, deeply rooted into a personal iconography. Levitating in what seems like never-ending deserts and pristine waters, surrounded by veils of light and carnal flowers, the feminine figures depicted by Beatrice reveal, within their fading silhouettes, a discrete image of the self. Many of the works carry a dreamlike atmosphere, suspended in a liminal space between sleep and wakefulness—what could be called hypnagogia, a state where the body rests but the mind remains vividly active. This quality infuses the works with an uncanny atmosphere and a tense anticipation of subtle movement of the depicted figures.
Beatrice Duman’s work emerges from a space of self-reflection and instinctive creation. She does not force meaning, but allows it to surface organically from personal experience. Her paintings reveal an ongoing negotiation with trauma, transformation, and healing. They are at once confessional and universal, violent and tender, wounded and healing. ‘‘Vulnerability is a brutal space’’ invites the public to reconsider the body not as a sealed vessel, but as a visual archive of personal motifs and beliefs—one that subtly reveals the layered interplay between trauma, memory, and identity.” (curatorial text)
Beatrice Duman (b. 2000, Bucharest) is a self-taught visual artist working primarily in oil painting. Her practice delves into the human subconscious and emotional states, often reflecting on femininity, the condition of the woman, and the intimate landscapes of her inner world. Drawing from personal experience and symbolic depth, her works invite viewers into a space of introspection and psychological resonance. Duman has been part of several group shows, including Wholymother at Strata Gallery (2021), Thirteen Shapes of May at IOMO Gallery (2024), and Aquarius Pavilion at Pharmakon Gallery (2025).
