Apartamentul Deschis / Flat Space / B68
The FLAT SPACE / APARTAMENT DESCHIS project is a functional replica of a socialist apartment designed by Stefan RUSU commissioned to represent the identity of KIOSK project.
The point of departure for the design of the FLAT SPACE / APARTAMENT DESCHIS project was to publicly display the private space of a flat limited by the standards of the socialist society, which still is a strong visual element within the contemporary urban and social landscape of East European countries.
Moreover, the project was aimed at democratizing the cultural act through providing public access to events that were to occur in this space, somehow as a continuation of the “unofficial” or underground practice during the era of the totalitarian regime, when underground art was being denied access to “official” exhibition spaces and, more generally speaking, it wasn’t publicly accepted; the phenomenon of exhibitions in private flats proliferated during the stagnation years (1970s – 1980s), when underground art could only be seen in intimate settings by a small audience.
The transparency and the openness of the flat give the exposure to an architectural model extracted from the flat building that is composed from few basic elements characteristic to societies in transitions: the main façade with a balcony covered with plastic windows, dining room, kitchen and bathroom. The balcony is a key element, which will function as a cultural info point and will distribute information with cultural content. The rest of the space that is exposed to the public will bear a multifunctional character and will serve as an open platform for public presentations and cultural events.
Ștefan RUSU
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Zpațiu / Casa Zemstvei
EN / The Zpace project space, as a platform for supporting and presenting contemporary art practices and promoting civic activism, appeared on the cultural map of Chisinau in 2013, with the aim of building a community and providing open spaces for independent cultural initiatives in Moldova.
Located within the walls of the House of Zemstvo and representing one of the few alternatives offering accessible spaces for the local cultural and civic scene, it houses art workshops, training and rehearsal spaces, co-working space and a hall set up for public events (exhibitions, performances, screenings, etc.), facilitating access to its programmes for the general public. Since 2014 Zpace has systematically hosted events related to advocacy in the field of culture and community development, providing training opportunities in cultural management and facilitating debates and organizing roundtables, seminars and conferences on sustainable urban development. Serving as a project space for independent cultural initiatives, a space for public discussions and a laboratory for emerging artists, Zpace, along with several other spaces, has facilitated multiple interactions between the members of independent cultural and civic activist scenes, contributing to the emergence of the Urban Civic Network and the Coalition of the Independent Cultural Sector from Republic of Moldova, which were founded at the House of Zemstvo in 2015 and 2021 respectively.
Based on the principle of a shared agenda in the form of an open calendar, Zpace has been regularly used by local and international artists working with contemporary art, political and socially engaged art, experimental photography, video, installation, graphic design and DIY publishing methods. Theatre collectives, musicians and performing arts artists regularly rehearse here. Also there is a workshop equipped to repair bicycles and various equipment, encouraging mobility and contributing to the greater autonomy of the local cultural community. The Sound Studio and the Binefactory are the two most recent spaces that were set up as part of this project.
Zpace offers a diverse program for the public (20-30 events annually), being one of the few active contemporary art spaces in Chisinau. Twice a year, it opens its doors to the general public as part of the Open Workshops programme, which showcases the artistic practices of residents in the studios and aims to create closer links with the public.
ArtHotel
Parcul Zaikin
str. Maria Dragan