Contemporary Art in Moldova is a kind of alienated, rejected cultural phenomenon. The activity of the small group of artists trying to work in this area is completely ignored by official authorities as well by the social environment.

        It is considered that in Moldova there is no demand for contemporary art.

In Moldova art isn’t politicaly and socialy engaged.

There's no art market because there are no art collectors, no system of art galleries, there is no any curatorial institut.

       Moldova hasn’t contemporary art criticism, no art expertise.

       There are no individuals, no state institutions or foundations supporting or promoting contemporary art on the national level.

     Moreover, in the gouvernamental cultural and educational system discipline "History of Art" completes its development on Matisse.

      Logical analysis of the cultural situation in Moldova, could lead to one conclusion – there is no Contemporary Art in Moldova.

       However, it is not!

      Moldova builds several Pavilions at 54th Venice Biennale!

   There were three private initiatives involved, no one supported by any Moldovan governmental or non-governmental cultural structure :

1. A major moldovian businessman payd the rent of 100 sq/m to build an exhibion of his daughter’s painting.

2. A small, italian based, russian curatorial agency developed a little scale project with an unnoun, moldovan-italian, commercial fashion brend. They also paid themselves for their 4 sq/m space as well project expences.

3. KSAK Center for Contemporary Art, Chisinau cames with a “ghost project” in a form of an advertising company that was presented in Venice during first week after the opening of Biennale. This was a low budget conceptual project in which I was also invited to participate. There was no space needed and minimum organizational expenses involved.

      All those three projects didn’t have to pass through any sort of expertise, committee, or other clear selection procedure – they have experience only one thing in common – they must pay for square meters they would like to use.
 

      Then come questions I ask myself:
 

      Does a certain financial value give to something status of the Art?
 

      Does Money become a decisive factor in determining the Art?
 

     Could anything declared to be a piece of ART due to this fact get a
certain financial value?

Lucia Macari

2011