Challenging viewers to reflect on the evolving dynamics of white supremacy, patriarchy, and “European ideals”, while offering a platform to reconsider Romania’s history and its continuing impact on national identity, the Land of Fire opens up new horizons.
Curated by Cosmin Costinaş, Mona Vătămanu, and Florin Tudor, the exhibition at Kunsthalle Bega explores often-overlooked aspects of Romania’s colonial history, sparking conversations about memory, accountability, and national identity. Rather than offering a linear narrative, the exhibition weaves together diverse perspectives to examine themes of resistance, complicity, and community. It sheds light on critical issues such as the exploitation of Romani people, the struggles in Transnistria, and Romania’s colonial legacy.
Kunsthalle Bega is an experimental space for contemporary art to be taught, discussed, and exhibited. It also offers an annual award – the Bega Art Prize, given to a Romanian curator under 40 who has managed to change the rules of curatorial perception. The Land of Fire curator, Cosmin Costinaş, won it in 2021. Born in Satu Mare, Romania, in 1982, Cosmin is an author and freelance curator. He was co-artistic Director of the 24th Biennale of Sydney (2024), co-curator of the Romanian Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale (2022), and Curator of Dakar Biennale 2018 – La Biennale de l’Art africain contemporain-DAK’ART (2018), among others. Currently, he’s the Senior Curator of Exhibition Practices at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, HKW, Berlin. An editor and contributor to numerous books, magazines, and exhibition catalogues. Cosmin has also taught and lectured at different universities, art academies, and institutions around the world.
Listen to the interview with Cosmin Costinaş and learn more about Land of Fire, as well as Cosmin’s curatorial inspirations and process:
Land of Fire
18 October 2024 – 15 March 2025
Kunsthalle Bega, Timisoara, Romania
Curator: Cosmin Costinaş
Co-curators: Mona Vătămanu and Florin Tudor
Artists: Claudia Andujar, Florin Bobu, Alex Bodea, Tony Chakar, Ana Deji, Megan Dominescu, Mihaela Drăgan, Ion Dumitrescu, Chitra Ganesh, Alexandra Gulea, Loredana Ilie, Sakarin Krue-On, Ivana Mladenović, Nicoleta Moise, Silvia Moldovan, Elisabeta and Emilia Morar, Veda Popovici and Mircea Nicolae, Maria Prodan, Citra Sasmita, Ștefan Sava, Ultima Esperanza, Sana Shahmuradova Tanska, Robel Temesgen, Hans Mattis-Teusch, Mona Vătămanu and Florin Tudor, Mark Verlan, Cecilia Vicuña, Apichatpong Weerasethakul
