A Political Gemstone Kingdom of Natural-Cultural Feelings from Bucharest to Warsaw: Larisa Crunțeanu's 'Aria Mineralia' exhibition

Abstrakt

The Latin formula Varia mineralia refers to the mineral regnum, which could be used in different combinations to serve as medicine, shelter, embellishment or alchemical magic. In 'Aria Mineralia', an exhibition of recent work by Larisa Crunțeanu, this young Romanian artist has created an artistic project in which the regnum encounters the human voice in an artistic alchemy of hope.

Semantically multi-layered, the core idea in 'Aria Mineralia' emerges from a found object: a stone-shaped speaker. During a spontaneous walk in Bucharest, Larisa Crunțeanu and Sonja Hornung (the two artists have been collaborating on projects since 2015) encounter a peculiar object that looks like a stone.

Although this striking object has the form of a stone found in its natural environment, it is to be used as a loudspeaker in the public space of the Romanian capital. The uncertain status, nature and function of this stone-like entity initially intrigued the artists to such an extent that they decided to listen carefully to what the object might have to say about what it is and what it stands for.

Thus, the objet trouvé - which can easily be taken as a loudspeaker, a stone, or whatever ontological in-betweenness - becomes a sign animated by the meaningful encounter with both the artist and the public of 'Aria Mineralia'.