24 Arguments. Early Encounters in Romanian Neo-Avant-Garde 1969–1971

The first volume of the Exhibition-Dossiers series published under the auspices of the Institute of the Present’s editorial programme, P+ 4 Publications, brings together a mix of materials of different kinds associated with the research that accompanied the first exhibition-dossier, 24 Arguments. Early Encounters in Romanian Neo-Avant-Garde 1969–1971, hosted by the National Museum of Art of Romania between November 7, 2019 and February 2, 2020. The editorial concept of the volume highlights a number of primary sources that allow to fill some gaps in the recent history of visual arts in Romania, which take into account the international exchanges during the years 1965–1971.

Thus, the volume offers a foray into the activity of artists emblematic for the new artistic practices of the 1970s, mapping their paths and artistic vision by presenting archival photographs, artists’ texts and recent testimonies of some of them. Alongside, the bood includes a non-exhaustive chronology focusing on the artists’ trips and their participation in international events and exhibitions, such as the Lausanne Tapestry Biennale (starting from 1967), the Nuremberg Biennale of Constructive Art (1969), the Venice Biennale (1966, 1968, 1970), the Paris Biennale of Young Artists, the exhibition 4 Romanian Artists at Bauzentrum Hamburg (1969), and the series of exhibitions organised from 1969 in Edinburgh by Scottish promoter Richard Demarco, which culminated in the Romanian Art Today event taking place in the framework of the Edinburgh International Festival (1971).

At the same time, the volume includes a selection of secondary sources that focus on the international reception of Romanian art in that period, with texts written by foreign art critics who visited Romania, and also a photographic documentation of the exhibition at the National Museum of Art of Romania.

Project co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund and with support from individual donors for the Institute of the Present.

Artists and authors:
Horia Bernea, Ștefan Bertalan, Ion Bitzan, Radu Dragomirescu, Sherban Epure, Constantin Flondor, Pavel Ilie, Ritzi Jacobi, Peter Jacobi, Ovidiu Maitec, Paul Neagu, Miriam Răducanu, Diet Sayler, Radu Stoica, Vladimir Șetran, Grupul Sigma