An accumulation of artworks of all kinds… all shapes, mediums and messages one would have the imagination to think of; they were all there… all thrown away into a corner of this highly controversial, but still emblematic building. It would sound very democratic and ideal but not in this case, one could also say that it is perfect, a work of art in itself, somehow managing to over identify with our common failure, in all of its forms.

The megalomaniac “people’s palace” is already crooked and crumbling due to its cheap materials, but one cannot see this from afar, always kept at a distance from the building by its cemetery-like fence. Even so, if one would be interested in contemporary art, s/he would have the opportunity to get closer and feel small beneath the mass of stone put together through extractive forces and impoverishment in the name of social progress. If one is not aware of the historical context of the second largest administrative building behind the Pentagon, one could very easily say that its architectural aesthetics are fascist; and we couldn’t find a decent argument to say no, but maybe we are wrong.

Nonetheless, this gigantic building, barely used in its entire housing capacity, is the home of the sole state owned museum of contemporary art in Romania, whose existence and beginnings are as controversial as the palace itself, so we’ve heard...

(text continues at the medium.com)

Written by SABA - Silvia Amancei and Bogdan Armanu, they are an artist couple working together since 2012.