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In amongst it

Andreea Sarcani reports from the Bologna Art Fair February 2005

There are numerous international cultural trends attesting to imminent globalisation, which, while it might have once appeared attractive conceptually, it now stands for many as the uncontrollable scourge of our times. However, as long as there are international art festivals and exhibitions where people still sincerely expect to see and learn something new, on the basis of resisting the temptation to uncritically borrow ideas, globalisation will continue to struggle.

In Italy, where visual art is considered the most natural form of expression, a series of cultural events will begin in January and run through the year as part of the 29 th annual Festival of Contemporary Art - Arte Fiera - Art First. Under the heading ''art in progress,'' the organisers propose to place both modern and contemporary art in the same context to show the particular qualities of each.

Identifying emerging patterns and trends in new art is also one of the main objectives of this festival, as well as providing the best possible space for galleries, artists, curators, collectors and lovers of art to meet.

Galeria H'art is present at this wide-ranging and important event, alongside renowned galleries such as Ernst Hilger of Austria and Leo Castelli of the United States. H'art is, without question, among the most pioneering of all Bucharest galleries and its owner, Dan Popescu, isn't afraid of staying away from the mainstream. The unusual nature of H'art projects, the thematic variety of the artists they promote and particularly their attempt to bridge a gap in Romania's post 1989 art world by creating a viable market for art, makes the inclusion and participation of H'art fitting. The fact that the festival's programme includes discussions devoted to the art of contemporary Eastern Europe, considered one of the most culturally dynamic regions at present, gives participant Dumitru Gorzo, one of the most prolific of the younger generation of Romanian artists, a real opportunity to promote Romanian art abroad.

Though the idea of participating in an arts festival perhaps suggests expectations mostly connected to financial considerations, Gorzo believes that the main advantage of the involvement of a Romanian gallery in an international festival is that it provides contact with a specialist public, galleries, artists and prestigious critics.

Among the works Gorzo is displaying at this festival is a small series of bas-reliefs in which an essentially realistic painted image is superimposed on a support carved with themes from folklore and mythology. The idea of having two different kinds of forms coexisting on the same surface while retaining their autonomy is relatively new.

The works selected represent, for the most part, images of the consciousness of the artist, who is from the village of Ieud in Maramures. Gorzo has removed his characters from their context in order to observe them better. They look exotic as a result of being represented in national costume, a rarity these days, giving his art an anthropological aspect. Gorzo's models banish from the mind of the viewer the stereotypical dull, sad expressions which we are used to associating with portraits inspired by the countryside. Gorzo has more often chosen jovial faces which, though whimsical and slightly commercial, will create, we hope, an image of Romania which is closer to reality than that seen in the media.