Artist
Ana-Cristina Irian
Ana-Cristina IRIAN is a visual arts researcher, curator, and research-based artist who works with collections, photo archives, and multimedia materials. She studied sociology (Trento&Regensburg) and visual anthropology (Bucharest&Perugia). She holds a PhD in visual arts at UNARTE.
Her artistic practice is developed under the motto No one left behind. It consists of the production of photo-objects and working with marginal/hidden objects and photographs, together with research materials transformed into photo-video installations reflecting the life of unknown people.
Cristina participated in over 35 exhibitions in Romania and abroad, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Portugal, and Hungary. Cristina's recent projects focus on interpreting memory objects and integrating photographic material into contemporary spaces through visual installations. Notable displays include her contribution to Fragmentum at Palatele Brâncovenești and Here they lived at Carol 53 and the International Visual Art Biennale Brașov (2021, 2023).
Cristina has published studies in Anthropology of East Europe Review, Indiana University; History of Communism in Europe, IICCMER; Studies and History Articles, Romanian Society of Historical Sciences; Romanian Contemporary Photography Influx; Revelar, Universidade do Porto. She is also the author of "Photographic collections and archives today, in the digital world," published by Tritonic.
Anca Punct – the artist behind the project Raw Photography and Other Magical Territories: A Focused Journey – has been selected for FUTURES due to her innovative and boundary-pushing approach to visual expression. By combining traditional raw photography with AI technology and mixed media techniques, the artist demonstrates a deep understanding of the intersection between nature and digital innovation.
Cosmin Gârleșteanu, the photographer behind the project Prismagination, has been selected due to the innovative and thought-provoking nature of his work. By skillfully using prisms to capture captivating real-life moments, he demonstrates a unique and imaginative approach to photography that challenges conventional perceptions. The photographer's ability to blend technical skill with artistic vision demonstrates a mastery of his craft.
Cristina Irian has been selected due to her unique and innovative approach to visual storytelling. By exploring the use of fragile personal objects like doilies and photographs to communicate and preserve memories, she brings a fresh perspective to the art of photography. Her focus on intertwining the female and male gazes adds depth to the work, offering a thought-provoking exploration of gender dynamics and intergenerational connections.
Elena Corbu has been selected as one of the FUTURES artists due to her unique ability to capture the essence of the inner journey and innate gifts through photography. Her portfolio demonstrates a deep understanding of the metamorphic nature of the creative process, going beyond mere aesthetics and technicalities to convey profound meaning and emotion through her work.
Georgiana Feidi has been selected due to her profound exploration of the theme of meditation through visual art. Her work delves into the concepts of meditation, self-discovery and the transformative nature of artistic creation. By intentionally depersonalising the human presence in photographs and using wide frames to emphasise the relationship between the individual and the universe, the photographer creates a visually striking and thought-provoking representation of the human experience.