Liviu Bulea - Visual Artist

Artist Statement

Bulea's distinctly Brutalist aesthetic hides a deeply personal and emotional artistic practice. The artist was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 19. He wanted to investigate why this was afflicting him and many of the young people in his hometown, Turda. So began his artistic trajectory. He dug deep into the architectural and historical archives of his hometown, uncovering information about pollution, abandoned factories, and the relationship between urban environments and health. One of the artist's earliest works was a recreation of a garden in his city. Each time it rained, the fruits in this garden ended up covered in a layer of cement due to the amount of pollution in the area. You would have to break the cement open in order to eat the fruit. In another early work, Bulea collected fragments of the walls of the hospital in which he was treated.

For the artist, the urban space is a living, breathing organism, full of personal memories and associations -

but also political provocations. By collecting or recreating derelict fragments from his hometown, he ensures that histories of neglect will not be forgotten. All too often, derelict spaces are overlooked, before they are eventually demolished and rebuilt. But, for the artist, it is precisely within the ruins that the deepest and darkest memories of a city can be found. Today, Bulea continues to work at the intersection of art, architecture, and the urban environment. His artistic process usually begins with walking, photographing, and collecting. The artist explains, * consider myself a collector. I collect stories, memories of the places and people around me [...J I recover seemingly useless material fragments that come from precise contexts." He also creates photographic collages and drawings of the buildings and objects that he encounters. He then arranges the fragments on canvases, creating works that blur the boundaries between painting, sculpture, architecture and objects.

Residencies

2022

AIR at Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris; offered by European Investment Bank in Luxemburg

2019

AIR Urban Nation Museum & Stiftung Berliner Leben, Berlin

2018

Styria-Artist-in-Residence, (St.A.i.R.), offered by Chancellery of Styria, Graz
AIR Reactor de Creație și Experiment, Cluj-Napoca

2016

AIR Kultur Kontakt Austria, offered by the Chancellery of Austria, Vienna

2013

AIR Visual Kontakt Gallery, Oradea

Personal Exhibitions (selection)

2023

Colaps, Diptych Art Space, Bucharest, curator: Lina Țărmure

2022

Home, Cité International des arts, Paris, mentor: Tatiana Trouvé

2021

Homoerotic Revolution, Technopolis, Athens, curator: Alexis Fidetzis

2020

Despre Gri, CAVE - French Cultural Institut, Cluj-Napoca

2019

Berlin Street Stories, Urban Nation, Berlin

2018

Under The Grey Dust, Creart Gallery, Bucharest, curator: Răzvan Ion
#808080 - Pfeiffer Vacuum Romania, Apahida, Cluj
Installation for the performance: Body of Defiance, Reactor de Creație și Experiment, Cluj-Napoca

2017

#808080 - Iaga Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Olimpia Bera
BBTGOGIAWIA - Shelter Club, Amsterdam

2016

Simulacrum - Parallel Vienna, Vienna

2015

Crypto 2 - Make A Point Gallery, Bucharest, curator: Cătălin Vălean

2014

Crypto 1 - Reactor de Creație și Experiment, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Cătălin Vălean

2013

Sold Out - Visual Kontakt, Oradea, curator: Olimpia Bera
Cancerilizare - Casa Matei Gallery, Cluj-Napoca

Group and duo exhibitions (selection)

2023

Accelerating Young Talent - Art Acquisitions 2021 - 2022, European Investment Bank, Luxembourg
Puls 22 - Art Acquisitions, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest
Put It In Other Words, the Center Of Urban Culture, Cluj, curators: Ioan Sbarciu & Olimpia Bera
Colecția 2.0, Galateca Gallery, Bucharest
Rotterdam Art Week group exhibition, Chrysalid Gallery, Rotterdam

2022

Karambol, The Cosmic House Gallery, Cluj, curator: Gilda Ghinoiu
WEITERBILDUNG - RESHAPED, Retramp Gallery, Berlin, curators: Katia Hermann & Linda Toivio
Book Of Change, Høstutstillingen, Oslo, curators: Georgiana Dobre & Kjersti Vetterstad
Poeme urbane, Arthub, Bucharest, curators: Nona Șerbănescu & Daniel Kozak
Fazele Lunii, Contemporan Hair Space, Bucharest: Curator: Raluca Ilaria Demetrescu
Queer Meltdown, Hous Der Statistik, Berlin, curator: Hannah Whitlow
Lust Is In The Air, Combinatul Fondului Plastic, Bucharest, curator: Raluca Ilaria Demetrescu
Queer Repertoire, Centrul de Proiecte, Timisoara, curator: Eugen Rădescu
Charity Exhibition, Chrysalid Gallery, Rotterdam, curator: Marth Von Loeben
Unnatural Circumstances III, Romanian Cultural Institut, Berlin
Mapping Frames, Muzeum of Art, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Olimpia Bera
Flori și oameni /Homo homini flos est, Galeria 1001 Arte, Bucharest, curator: Raluca Ilaria Demetrescu

2021

Simți ~ Aluneci ~ Cânți (1- 245), Combinatul Fondului Plastic, București, curators: Dragoș Olea, Sandra Demetrescu
Art Behaviour, ZÖNOTÉKA, Berlin, curator: Luca Roxana-EmiliaLeaving
The Garden, National Art Museum, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Olimpia Bera
Le francais est ton atout, USAMV, Cluj-Napoca
Fetish, The Ballery Gallery, Berlin, curator: Simon Williams
Superheroes/Antiheroes, Art Safari, Bucharest, curator: Raluca Ilaria-Demetrescu
Yes HOMO, Cosmic House, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Cătălin Bocîrnea
We`re here, Faber, Timisoara, curator: Daniel Kozak
Partial Decomandat, National Art Museum, Cluj-Napoca, coordonted by Olimpia Bera, Aurel Codoban, Ioan Sbârciu
Memoria Tăinuită a Locului, National Art Muzeum, Cluj-Napoca, coordinated by Prof. Ioan Sbârciu
Neo-Manifest Romantic, Galateca Gallery, Bucharest

2022

Of Wondering Concrete And A Displaced Camera, Chrysalid Gallery, Rotterdam, curator: Marth Von Loeben
Neo-Manifest Romantic, National Art Museum, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Ioan Sbârciu
Conversations, Iaga Art Gallery, Cluj-Napoca
Pahllus Impudicus, Etaj - Artist Run Space, Bucharest, curator: Raluca Ilaria Demetrescu
We`re here, NAG, Bucharest, curator: Daniel Kozak
What If You Were In My Shoes?, National Art Museum, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Ioan Sbârciu
L'Art s'invite dans l'industrie 2.0, Energom, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Horea Avram

2019

Re:start - National Art Museum, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Horea Avram
Seen in Berlin - POINT - Cultural Hub, Bucharest
OBIECT. Călător prin istorii publice și personale - National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest, V. Iancu & Vlad Viski
Walter Koschatzky Kunst-Preis - MUMOK, Vienna
Künstler*innenbücher von Stipendiat*innen des Landes Steiermark - Steiermärkische Landesbibliothek, Graz, curator:: Christiane Kada

2018

BB8 after BB8 - CAC, LANDSKRONA, Sweden, curators: Nina Slejko Blom & Conny Blom
BUCHAREST BIENNALE 8 - Bucharest, curators: Beral Madra and Răzvan Ion
Diversitas - Reactor de Creatie si Experiment, Cluj-Napoca
WOW - Visual Kontakt, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Eugen Rădescu

2017

Dead Gardens - Visual Kontakt, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Olimpia Lazar
Habitus - Iaga Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, curator: Sabina Dragomir
War of Worlds - National Museum of Art, Constanta, curator: Eugen Rădescu
War of Worlds - MORA Gallery, Bucharest, curator: Eugen Rădescu
Mazipos - Laboratory VK, Oradea, curator: Carlos Carmomedina

2016

Unnatural Circumstances - Visual Kontakt Gallery, Cluj-Napoca

2015

Local Municipalities - Laboratory VK, curators: Olimpia Bera and Carlos Carmomedina
Muian - Visual Kontakt Gallery, Oradea, curator: Alina Staicu
Genesis - Jurmala City Museum, Jurmala, Latvia, curator: Edmunds Lucis

2010

Poster/Plakat - ASP Katowice, curator: Roman Kalarus
4th edition of the International Student Biennale, Novi Sad

Art fairs:

2023 - RAD Fair, Bucharest, Romania
2022 - BOOMing Contemporary Art Fair, Bologna, Italy

2021 - Lucas Art Fair, Lucca, Italy
2021 - The Others Art Fair, Torino, Italy

2016 - Parallel Vienna, Austria

Education and Training

2020

ongoing - Ph.D. Candidate at University of Arts and Design, Cluj-Napoca

2021

Erasmus internship at Hosek Contemporary, Berlin

2011 - 2013

Graphic Arts, MA, University of Arts and Design, Cluj-Napoca
Psychopedagogy and psychology of children, MA, University of Arts and Design, Cluj-Napoca

1 May - 31 July 2012

Erasmus internship at Freies Museum Berlin

2008 - 2011

Graphic Arts, BA, University of Arts and Design, Cluj Napoca
Psychopedagogy and psychology of children, BA, University of Arts and Design, Cluj-Napoca

2009 - 2010

Erasmus scholarship, ASP Katowice

2004 - 2008

"Romulus Ladea", high school of fine arts, Cluj-Napoca

Work Experience

2021 - 2023

Senior Editor for Gay45.eu

2016 - 2018

Vice President for Visual Kontakt Gallery, Oradea & Cluj-Napoca

2015 - 2018

Manager for Visual Kontakt Gallery, Cluj-Napoca

2015 - present

independent curator

2013 - present

event manager

2012 - present

freelance graphic designer

Collections

Institutions:

European Investment Bank, Luxemburg
National Museum of Contemporary Art Romania
Queer Museum, Bucharest, Romania
Schwules Museum, Berlin, Germany
Urban Nation Museum, Berlin, Germany
Universal Museum Joanneum, Graz, Austria
Tom Of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, USA
Visual Kontakt, Oradea, Romania

Private:

Italy: Verona
Germany: Berlin, Munchen, Köln
Switzerland: Lausanne
Austria: Graz, Vienna
France: Bois Colombes
USA: San Antonio, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Salem, West Hollywood, Vermillion, New York City, Kernersville
Romania: Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest, Oradea
Ukraine: Kiev
Spain: Tenerife

Publications

2023

Accelerating Young Talent - Catalogue, European Investment Bank - ADP, ART

2022

Home, Liviu Bulea, European Investment Bank
Mein Schwules Auge, Sex Utopia by Rainaldo Hopf & Fedya Ili, Konkursbuch

2021

Mein Heimlisches Auge - Das Jahrbuch der Erotik XXXVI, edited by Claudia Gherke & Uve Schmidt, Konkursbuch
Revista Steaua nr.7
Exhibition Catalogue; CATALOG NEO-MANIFEST ROMANTIC. IDENTITĂŢI ALE ŞCOLII DE LA CLUJ, Galateca Gallery
Pornceptual Magazine, FUCK 2020

2020

Haus Magazine, Political Issue 4
Mein Schwules Auge, Body Issue by Rainaldo Hopf & Fedya Ili, Konkursbuch

2019

Walter Koschatzky Prize 2019 Catalogue
One Hour With the Model by Igor Yermakov

2017

Catalog, #808080, Liviu Bulea, Iaga Gallery

2016

KulturKontakt Magazine, winter 2016/2017
Tribuna, Timp, Spatiu si Degradare de Eugen Cojocaru

2010

4th World Biennale of Student Poster Catalog, Novi Sad

Talks

2022

Research Methods in Visual Arts Symposium, ASP Wroclaw

2020

Artist talk for Pride Romania, Online via Facebook
Artist Talk at Royal School in Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca

2019

Artist Talk at University of Arts and Design, Photo-Video department, Cluj-Napoca

2018

Artist Talk at HTBLVA Graz Ortweinschule, Austria
Artist Talk “HOME” at Atelier Schillerstrasse, Graz, part of Styria Artist in Residence
Artist Talk for Bucharest Biennale, Creart, BucharestArtist Talk, Queer Art, Fundația Rațiu, Turda
Art Debate - Art Safari, BB8, RDW at Creart, Bucharest
Artist Talk at University of Arts and Design, Photo-Video department, Cluj-Napoca

2017 -

Artist Talk about Dead Gardens exhibition at University of Arts and Design, Cluj-Napoca
Artist Talk about WOW exhibition at ARCUB, Bucharest
Artist Talk at Art High School "Romulus Ladea", Cluj-Napoca

Curator

2021

A Safe Place, artist: Claudia Chelaru, Reactor de Creație și Experiment, Cluj
Smaller Side room, international exhibition, 21 artists, Faber, Timisoara
Smaller Side Room, international exhibition, 21 artists, Reactor de Creație și Experiment, Cluj

2018

Diversitas - artists: Odeta Catană, Virginia Lupu, Remus Țiplea, Reactor de Creație și Experiment, Cluj
The Garden - artists: 6 female artists, Visual Kontakt Cluj
Gradual Decline - artists: Andreea Chirică, Razvan Ion, Visual Kontakt Cluj

2017

Pleasure Hunt - artist: Corina Olaru, Visual Kontakt Cluj
Inside - artists: Odeta Catană, Sasha Bandi, Visual Kontakt Cluj
Smee - artist: Anna Olenicenco, Visual Kontakt, Cluj
Alter Ego - artist: Celina Cordoș, Reactor de Creație și Experiment, Cluj

2016

A Journey Through Slavic Prints, 30 artists from Slavic countries, curated with Rada Niță, Visual Kontakt, Cluj

2015

Mater Familias - artist: Oana Maria Pop, Casa Tiff, Cluj

Contact Me

bulea.liviu@yahoo.com

0040-756-363-645