• The hottest event of the summer, the Art Safari Love Edition presents Love Stories with over 100 masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Man Ray, Van Dyck and David Hockney;

• The exhibition is an intrusion into the intimate relationships of the most famous couples, from the 16th century to the present day: Victoria and David Beckham, Yoko Ono and John Lennon, Harry and Meghan Markle, Princess Diana and Prince Charles, Linda and Paul McCartney, Salvador and Dalí Gala etc.;

• Art Safari continues its series of restorations of great Romanian artists with the artist Constantin Artaquino (1870-1954) in an exhibition organized in collaboration with the Museum of the City of Bucharest, with an amazing scenography signed by Cosmin Florea;

• Andrii Pleshu signs the curatorial text of the exhibition dedicated to Ion Alin Georgiu (1929-2001), one of the most important postmodernist artists in Romania;

• A fairytale world vs. a sci-fi scene with zombies! Art Safari also presents an exhibition of contemporary Romanian art curated by Ruth Gibbard (Victoria and Albert Museum, London): Nymphs and Zombies: Ondine’s Hope and Baraka’s Despair.

“Strong emotions, butterflies in the stomach, platonic love or a long-term relationship? The spectacle of love can be seen in the Art Safari Love Edition. Love stories have always fascinated humanity, and art has given touching evidence of them over time. From the museum collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London, in the heart of Bucharest, Love Stories is an exhibition that will captivate all generations.”- Ioana Ciocan, CEO of Art Safari and Commissioner of Romania at the Venice Art Biennale.

Love Stories, curated by Lucy Peltz, exhibition in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, London

The portraits on display in Bucharest show the changing face of love through a series of real-life stories dominated by passion and tragedy. “Love Stories” is an ode exhibition dedicated to love. From the idea that love is a dangerous disease to the modern glorification of it as a way to find satisfaction in life, love has been a constant and defining feature of humanity.

Love Stories also includes a Romanian section with works signed by Romanian artists, including the great artist Nicolae Grigorescu, as well as a love letter between Constantin Brancusi and one of his great loves, the dancer Florence Mayer.

Constantin Artakino (1870 – 1954), curator: Elena Olariou, exhibition created in partnership with the Bucharest City Museum, scenography: Cosmin Florea

Artachino is considered a master of portrait and landscape in the history of domestic art. He was attracted by the Eastern and Balkan world, which he painted with silk brushes. It was distinguished by an elegant, balanced creation, clear lines and contours, perfectly harmonious. An important and sophisticated painter, Artachino studied at the Ecole Belle-Arte, where he was a student of Theodore Aman, and in Paris, at the Académie Julian, where he was a colleague of Nicolae Vermont and Stefan Lucian. In addition, he makes friends with them, creates artistic groups. For his outstanding services as an artist and teacher, he was awarded by King Ferdinand in 1915 and by King Charles II in 1931.

The scenography of the exhibition was written by Cosmin Florea, one of the most famous theater scenographers in Romania. He collaborated with famous directors from Romania and France, and in 2022 he won the Uniter Award for the best set design. Forest of the Hanged” (director Radu Afrim), “Exile” (director Aleksandra Badea) are some of the plays that represent his universe.

Ion Alin Georgiou (1929-2001), artist of “Hanging Gardens”, curator of the exhibition: Anamaria Smigelshi, curatorial text Andrii Pleshu

Art Safari exhibits abstract and large canvases signed by one of the most prominent Romanian postmodernists, Ion Alin Georgiou.

“Each image is a synthesis of sensuality and discipline, unadulterated immediacy and restrained “classics”, with a restrained baroque touch… Alin Georgiou has all the data of a visionary master, a model of professionalism and inspiration. Unfortunately, I sometimes have the feeling that today, in the conditions of the crisis of criteria and culture, the need for models has decreased. A probable solution to this, I hope, temporary crisis is the exhibition itself at Art Safari” – a fragment of the curatorial text of Andrii Plesha.

Nymphs and Zombies: Undine’s Hope and Baraka’s Despair, curated by Ruth Gibbard

Two modern artists, with two diametrically opposed visions, united in an unconventional exhibition.

Ruth Gibbard, Curator: “An exhibition with two different entrances! The works of both artists are gathered together in the center of the exhibition space, in one room that can be accessed from both sides. Here you can compare the different visions of Undine and Baraka and decide if you are on Team Nymph or Team Zombie.”

Undine Slimovsky (b. 1982) is an artist of calm mythology and a bestiary of beautiful fairy tales. He uses female portraits as a tool to evoke strong emotions Pavel Baraka (b. 1994) is an artist who focuses on shocking and provocative subjects. His approach is also critical, emphasizing the banality of evil through sarcasm and irony.

In addition to the four exhibitions, Art Safari will also present a series of installations. Children are also waiting for creative workshops and individual excursions as part of Art Safari Kinder.

“Art Safari” program (June 30 – September 10, 2023)

• Thursday-Sunday – 12:00-21:00; Night tours – every Friday and Saturday from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (special guided tours at all exhibitions and prosecco)
• Tickets: artsafari.ro or directly at the entrance
• Palatul Dacia-Romania, street Lipscani, no. 18-20, Bucharest

About Art Safari Bucharest: Art Safari, supported by Glo, Lidl, BCR, Porsche, Schweppes, Kinder, Garanti BBVA, Rose Verite, Yamaha, Asus, specializes in creating exhibition pavilions. Now in its 12th year, the annual organizer of the Bucharest Art Pavilion – Romania’s largest conglomerate of art exhibitions – organizes large-scale retrospective exhibitions in partnership with Romanian and international art museums and private collectors that offer a resurgence of heritage values. With a strong educational side, its mission is to bring art closer to the public and educate new generations by organizing art workshops for children, tours and contemporary art exhibitions in non-traditional locations such as Henri Coanda Airport or the Bucharest Metro. Art Safari is a strategic national cultural project supported by the Ministry of Culture and implemented in partnership with the Bucharest City Museum, the National Art Museum of Romania and the Romanian Institute of Culture. The official partner of Art Safari is BCR. Over 400,000 visitors have been registered in 11 editions so far. More information: artsafari.ro.