Meet Calina Coman | Independent Curator & Art Critic | Researcher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Calina Coman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Calina, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am originally from Romania and currently reside in Bucharest. However, during my childhood and early teenage years, I lived in a smaller town located about two hours away from Bucharest called Calarasi. The region is relatively quiet and lacks restored historical monuments or stunning urban views, but it is abundant in natural landscapes due to the presence of a flowing branch of the Danube River. I grew up in my quaint, almost sleepy hometown, located right on the edge of Bulgaria before I moved to Bucharest. It was a significant shift from the peaceful life I was used to, to the bustling, vibrant energy of the city and its dynamic art scene.

During my academic journey, I studied Art History at the Bucharest National University of Arts. This experience felt like stepping into a new world of bold expressions, but also muddy waters. Eventually, I went on to pursue a master’s degree in Visual and Curatorial Studies. As I traveled throughout Europe, courtesy of scholarships and study trips, I had the opportunity to observe how art is intertwined with diverse cultural identities and societies. I found this to be an adventurous and engaging way to expand my understanding.

Regarding curating, for me, it meant combining my knowledge, desires, dislikes, and preferences. I became deeply involved in the vibrant artist-run scene in Bucharest where spontaneity and intuition were key, and I’m sure this influenced my journey. Currently, I’m blending curation with research and am a part of the ETAJ collective, an artist-run space established in 2018 by Mircea Modreanu. Our goal is to connect with artists and collectives worldwide, creating a thriving and collaborative art community.
My research focuses on how Romanian artists use light in their work, inspired by the Light & Space movement. I find it to be a captivating journey that I thoroughly enjoy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I find a sense of excitement every time I start a new project and collaborate with others. Whether it’s crafting stories, creating artistic experiences, or navigating the digital world, my work is fueled by blending subtle moments that engage the mind, body, and soul. It’s provoking to listen to the stories of the people I work with and see their light, then add my thoughts and interpretation once I track down the wave of their passion. I look after understanding and observing the fine-drawn dynamics that initiate the artist’s creative process. Perhaps the essence of art is enriched by the genuine connection with its creator.

I am passionate about curating and enjoy building close relationships with artists. I work with both local and international artists and curators from different collectives and try to focus on independent and artist-led initiatives. I am also involved in writing about art, which includes publishing reviews, and chronicles, promoting artists or exhibitions, which allows me to approach the creative process from different angles – which aligns with my philosophy of curating. I believe in the curatorial practice as a continuously evolving concept/entity, and versatility is essential. I’ve learned from my experiences so far the importance of having mixed points of view, and I try to maintain a critical perspective while being actively engaged in the process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d start by taking a walk around the city center, see the masterpieces at the National Museum of Art of Romania (MNAR) and the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC), then make a gallery circuit and artist-run spaces worth seeing. Exploring Bucharest’s architecture on our way to attend some openings (there are always events taking place in Bucharest), and supposingly we’re both coffee aficionados, we’d relish the roasted beans at Orygyns, Origo, Saint Roastery, Sloane Coffee, and Uzina – all these have tasty specialty coffee. For evening chill and jazzy vibes, we can go to urban gardens or terraces, Green Hours, or Random Space, or end up in a club, there are a few underground audiophile clubs. There are plenty of great places to eat in Bucharest, so we’ll have no trouble finding something to suit everyone’s tastes.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I love this! Let’s roll out the red carpet for my family as their support and trust have been the foundation of my journey. I am also grateful for my partner, friends, ETAJ colleagues, talented artists, and international collaborators. Every person I have met and worked with has played a significant role in my life. Even the brief and unusual interactions have taught me something precious. Having a diverse range of encounters has been a critical factor in sculpting my worldview, and I believe these experiences are invaluable in both my personal and professional life. I would also like to express my gratitude to some of my professors and colleagues from the university who have played a vital role in my growth and have been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals. Lastly, I confess, that not many years ago after reading Hermann Hesse’s “Siddhartha”, a book gifted by my father, I felt like stepping more confidently-curious when walking on the street. As if my steps were bigger than usual. Maybe it was a transformative experience, culminating with other factors as well, but a book that I think inspired me was that — and then the Light&Space literature that I’m currently infused in.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calinacoman/

Linkedin: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/calina-coman-4852221a5?trk=public_profile_browsemap

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calina.capslock

Other: https://www.instagram.com/etaj_artistrunspace/

Image Credits
Alexandru Busuioceanu, Ilina Schileru, Razvan Nastase, Lucian Mitra