Fusion AIR 2024

For its 4th edition, FUSION AIR explores the theme “Biophilia-Technophilia”, an invitation to discover other dimensions of Eco-Art practices, under the direction of curator Raluca Oancea : “*Fusion:AIR 2024 is located at the intersection of two seemingly contradictory trajectories, bio-philia and techno-philia, brought together by the practice of Eco Art in the hybrid territory of the entanglement between human and non-human, between matter and idea, between human "flesh" and flesh of the world. Here, in order to overcome anthropocentrism and the human-world dualism, eco artists propose a double becoming of man: becoming-nature and becoming-machine, and the recharging of new technologies with the valence of old techne to re-appropriating man to nature.*”

This year, we were pleased to welcome invited artists Maria Nalbantova and Ole Blank, as well as the winners of IN:FUSION, Qolony’s 2023 art-science hackathon : Denis Flueraru, Alexandra Costea, Zoita Delia Calinescu and Mihai Popescu. The scientific team is composed of Bogdana Mitu (National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics), Ana Butcaru (University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest), Maximilian Teodorescu and Marius Echim (Institute of Space Sciences), Ionut Enculescu, Victor Didulescu, and Anca Aldea (National Institute of Materials Physics) and Elena Badea (National R&D Institute for Textiles and Leather).

Each artist was paired with one or more scientists of their choice in order to work on a new concept during their four-week residency in the research facilities mainly located in Magurele, near Bucharest. After a series of visits, presentations and other mingling events, the groups were free to organise themselves to meet, use the laboratories and experiment.

The 6 works were presented in an exhibition at the gallery /SAC in Bucharest between 17 September and 12 October 2024; Ole Blank (The midnight feast) has developed a nutritive material for earthworms in the form of urban paving stones. The worms will gradually transform their sterile space into a living territory. Alexandra Costea (Immemorial structures) explores the memory of stone and its fragility, focusing on its preservation. Denis Flueraru (Solara) examines the interdependence between nature and the sun, revealing the sun's dual vital and destructive effect on natural elements. Mihai Popescu (How long should art/memory last?) observes the conservation of parchments and questions the action of preserving art. Maria Nalbantova (The pool is never empty) proposes a fluid re-imagining of time through the memories of a lake. Zoita Delia Calinescu (The success and failures of a beautiful practice) contrasts traditional plant-growing techniques with experimental ones, observing changes in the ecosystem.

On 28th of May, we organised a public round table event at the Goethe Institut of Bucharest during which curator Raluca Oancea presented the Biophilia-Technophilia concept, and the artists could showcase their work in progress and answer questions.

The exhibition, the project's final event, was a unique opportunity to see the finished works and to understand the drivers and challenges of art-science collaboration.

Fusion:AIR is co-funded by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) with the support of the Goethe Institut Bucharest and /SAC. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the grantee.