We are delighted to present a multimedia installation by artist duo Maria Guta & Lauren Huret at our beloved Cinema Europa in the neighbourhood of Suprainfinit gallery. Built in 1935 on historical Boulevard Calea Mosilor, Cinema Europa is one of the last public cinemas in the city. The presentation of the artistic installation in the lobby of the cinema is a reflection on the cinema culture questioning the hierarchies of global film production and distribution.
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗚𝘂𝘁𝗮 & 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘁 have been based in Switzerland for over ten years now, actively participating in exhibitions, festivals, teaching, performing, and delivering lectures and workshops both in Switzerland and internationally. Since 2020, they have been working together as a duo, engaging in joint reflections on the state of contemporary imagery, celebrity culture, and the impact of media on our identities. Their artistic endeavours primarily involve creating videos, installations, and performances.
What intrigues them is the fact that despite growing up in different cultural contexts (Maria in Romania and Lauren in France), we share a strong foundation rooted in American culture. This shared background forms the basis of our analyses, critiques, and inspirations. At the core of our collaboration lies a mutual fascination with the phenomenon of hyper-mediated and over-exposed figures within the framework of contemporary communication techniques. We refer to this as «media bewitchment» and find particular interest in how it influences our behaviours.
In the framework of the 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 project, the artists’ works expand, in a critical and humorous manner, ideas on the female body and identity reshaping the archetypes of femme fatale, business woman, vampire and witch. They draw inspiration from films and fictional narrative characters, placing an emphasis on female representation in media and pop culture.
The selection of short films expand the artist’s commentaries on femininity in cinema from decolonial, indigenous, queer, and more-than-human perspectives:
𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲, 2022, Natasha Tontey, Indonesia, UK, 27 min.
Synopsis: A coming of age story, the film develops a queer approach in understanding one of the main ritual ceremonies of the Minahasa people in Indonesia.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2023
𝗜 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 2022, Teona Galgoțiu, Romania, 21 min.
Synopsis: Sara faces the first signs of a disease she inherited from her father, which in its final stage will turn their bodies into plants.
Best short film, Gopo Awards 2023; Shanghai International Film Festival 2023; Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival 2023; Sarajevo Film Festival 2023
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻, 2022, Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Mexico, 19 min.
Synopsis: A legion of unwanted creatures related to the Mesoamerican underworld attempt to sintonize each other and with the dead in the midst of a planetary cataclysm.
Mexican Pavilion, 59th Venice Biennale 2022
The installation by Swiss-based artists Maria Guta & Lauren Huret is supported by Swiss Sponsors’ Fund, a common project of the Swiss Embassy and the Swiss-Romanian Chamber of Commerce.
The project 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 is co-funded by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund.
