Worth a look
Exhibition “One Eye Laughing, the Other Crying. Art From Romania in the Ovidiu Șandor Collection” at the International Cultural Centre in Cracow
Art and Heritage in Central Europe
The International Cultural Centre in Kraków and the Romanian Cultural Institute invite you to an extraordinary exhibition showcasing works from the collection of Ovidiu Şandor – one of the most important private art collections in Central Europe. This exhibition is part of the Poland-Romania Cultural Season 2024-2025, offering a broad and multi-dimensional panorama of Romanian art over the last century.
The display, spanning from the avant-garde classics of the early 20th century to contemporary creators, is more than just a review of artistic achievements. It is, above all, a story of human lives revealed through art. Together, they form a collective portrait of Romanians during the turbulent 20th century.
The exhibition highlights the country’s history and its artists, both those who had the opportunity to experiment, create, and gain international recognition, and those whose artistic paths were cut short by the oppression of political systems. Some maintained their creative freedom only within the confines of their studios, while others chose emigration, achieving success at the cost of the hardships of life abroad.
The exhibition intertwines themes of the carefree avant-garde, the distinctively Romanian sense of absurdity and grotesque, with subjects of violence and oppression that often became daily experiences. From surrealism as an escape from reality to „râsu-plânsul” – the characteristic laughter through tears – the exhibition illustrates how art helped to grapple with the struggles of everyday life and to find meaning even in the most tragic events.
The exhibition will also highlight contemporary Romanian artists who, while earning international acclaim, continue to confront the shadow of the 20th century, which, contrary to predictions, did not turn out to be short.
To deepen the narrative about Romania’s history and culture, a comprehensive publication will accompany the exhibition. The book, published in a bilingual Polish-English edition, includes essays by renowned intellectuals and scholars such as Adrian Babeți, Kazimierz Jurczak, Jakub Kornhauser, Diana Marincu, Frances Morris, Horia-Roman Patapievici, Tom Sandquist, and Vladimir Tismăneanu. This publication will provide insights into the exhibited works within a broad historical and cultural context.
The exhibition “One Eye Laughing, the Other Crying. Art From Romania in the Ovidiu Şandor Collection” is available from 08.03 to 20.07. 2025.
