The practice and discourse of contemporary art have undergone profound changes with the emergence of artistic research, one of the most important factors that has impacted established practice in the field. Artistic research has presented a whole set of new challenges and pressures on the institutional forms through which both state and non-state actors support artistic development. This has not been a uniform development, but one that has different characteristics in different political geographies. If in the ‘former East’, these changes overlapped with the major geopolitical changes of the 1990s, in the ‘former West’, the rise of artistic research has been strongly determined by the internal discourses and practices of universities and art academies. It is now clear that, in both geopolitical contexts, the new demands on institutional structures arising from the need for change generated by the specific challenges of artistic research have not been fully resolved.
Imagined Organizations is an international gathering of artists, curators, researchers and activists to share and discuss these challenges. We will also address the organizational imaginaries through which the development of artistic research cultures, infrastructures and environments have been elaborated. The intensive will include contributions from including Charles Esche (NL), Djordje Balmajovic (SRB/ SI), Andrei Trager (MD/Prednistrovie Republic), Minna Henriksson & Sezgin Boynik (FI / RKS), Vitalie Sprînceană (MD), Cristina David (RO), Mick Wilson (IRL / SE), Stine Hebert (DK), Ioana Florea, Maria Hlavajova (NL), Ioana Florea (RO), Ghenadie Popescu (MD), Baran Caginli (TR / FI), more.
22 and 23 July 2026, Chișinău (Republic of Moldova)
24 July 2026, Măcărești (Republic of Moldova)
25-26 July Iași (Romania)
The programme brings together artists, curators, and theorists to exchange practices and perspectives on how artistic organisations face the new challenges raised by the transformative impact of artistic research. The practice and discourse of contemporary art have undergone profound changes with the emergence of artistic research, one of the most important factors that has shaped established practice in the field. Furthermore, artistic research has presented an entire set of new challenges and pressures on the institutional forms through which both state and non-state actors support artistic development. This has not been a uniform development, but one that has different characteristics across various political geographies. While in the former East, these changes overlapped with the major geopolitical shifts of the 1990s, in the former West, the rise of artistic research was strongly driven by the internal discourses and practices of universities and arts academies. It is now clear that, in both geopolitical contexts, the new demands on institutional structures arising from the need for change generated by the specific challenges of artistic research have not been fully resolved.
The year long programme included a curatorial residency with the theorist and curator Maria Hlavajova (April-May), the exhibition of Ghenadie Popescu’s Childhood memories. Siberia 1941–1960 (May-June), Andrei Morari’s moving image exhibition Dima (June–July) as well as a research residency of Minna Henriksson and Sezgin Boynik in Iași and Chișinău (June). The program will also include Baran Caginli’s exhibition and performance “Lost and Found”, in July as well as Cristina David’s exhibition “Postcards from Mars” (October).
The central public moment of the programme is the international gathering and summer intensive Imagined Organisations, taking place from 22 to 27 July 2026 in Iași and Chișinău. A six-day event organised by tranzit.ro/ Iași, 1+1 Association, and Oberliht Association in association with CAPIm, it begins with a public programme in Chișinău before continuing in Iași, and brings together contributors including Rusanda Alexandru Curca (MD), Catalin Gheorghe (RO), Clara Abdullah & Elena Russu (RO/MD/PMR), Bojana Piskur (SI), Dan Acostioaei (RO), Victor Ciobanu (MD), Charles Esche (NL), Djordje Balmajović (SI), Andrei Morari (PMR/MD), Minna Henriksson & Sezgin Boynik (FI/RKS), Vitalie Sprînceană (MD), Cristina David (RO), Mick Wilson (IRL/SE), Olja Triaška Stefanović (SK), Ioana Florea (RO), Maria Hlavajova (NL), Ghenadie Popescu (MD), Baran Caginli (TR/FI), Livia Pancu & Florin Bobu (RO), Matei Bejenaru (RO), Vladimir Us (MD), Alexandru Țîrdea (RO), Maxim Poleacov (PMR/MD) and others.
Program:
Day 1, Wednesday, 22.07.2026 (Day in Chișinău)
Venue: Feredeului Building, strada Feredeului 4, MD-2005, Chișinău, Moldova
18:00-18:30 Welcome notes and a short introduction to the week with Vladimir Us, Maxim Poleacov, Florin Bobu, Livia Pancu and Mick Wilson
18:30-19:30 Book Launch: tranzit 20+ past, present, future, edited by Flóra Gadó, Borbála Soós, published by Archive Books, designed by Andreas Wesle, 2026
19:30-20:30 Book Launch: Vitalie Sprînceană, Moldofuturism, Published by ArtMonitor in partnership with 1+1 & tranzit ro /Iași, 2026
20:30 – 22:30 Rusanda Alexandru, DJ performance. Intros by Maxim Poleacov and Livia Pancu
Day 2, Thursday, 23.07.2026 (Day in Chișinău)
10:30-11:00 Coffee and short intro to Moldova Film Venue
11:00-13:00 Red Thread followed by Open Mic sessions (10-20 min/session). Venue: Moldova Film Building, Hincesti Hwy 61, MD-2028, Chișinău, Moldova
13:00-15:00: Lunch
15:30-19:30: Presentations by Minna Henriksson, Sezgin Boynik & Maxim Poleacov (in collaboration with Andrei Morari and Vitalie Sprînceană), Ioana Florea, Bojana Piskur, Maria Hlavajova; Venue: Plai Gallery, Alexander Pushkin St 39
Snacks and refreshments
Day 3, Friday, 24.07.2026 (Day in Măcărești)
09:45 Meet at pick up point for bus Hotel Chișinău (Parking), Negruzzi Boulevard 7, Chişinău, Moldova.
10:15 Bus departs to Iași with a 3h stop in Măcărești (MD).
13:15 Arrive in Măcărești. Victor Ciobanu, Study for The Book of Debts. (Studiu pentru Caietul de datorii), 2026
17:00 (approx.) Bus departs to Iași
19:00 (approx.) Arrival in Iași UNIRII Square. Check-in to accommodation.
20:00 Evening meeting and snacks and refreshments with a short Red Thread session
Day 4, Saturday, 25.07.2026 (Day in Iași)
11:00-13.00 Red Thread // followed by Open Mic sessions (10-20 min/each) Venue: tranzit ro/ Iași, Str. Sf. Atanasie nr. 25, Iași, Romania (Bolta Rece area)
13:00-15:00 Lunch
15:30-18:30: Presentations by Clara Abdulah and Elena Russu, Alexandru Țirdea, Charles Esche
19:00-19:30: Exhibition Opening, Baran Caginli, Lost and Found.
Followed by light snacks and refreshments
Day 5, Sunday, 26.07.2026 (Day in Iași)
10:00-13:30 Greenpeace Pavilion, Trei Ierarhi Monastery, Turkish Bath, Iași Pogrom Museum (with guided tours by Dan Acostioaei, Andrei Pripasu)
13:30-15:30 Lunch @CUIB
15:30-19:30 Presentations by Olja Triaška Stefanović, Vitalie Sprînceană, Matei Bejenaru
19:30 Performance by Dan Acostioaei, Prayer for the strengthening of the unseen borders
Followed by light snacks and refreshments
Day 6, Monday, 27.07.2026
Departures from Iași
Co-organised by 1+1 Association and tranzit-ro/ iași in partnership with HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design, Centre for Art and the Political Imaginary (CAPIm), Oberliht Association, the doctoral schools of the “George Enescu” National University of Arts Iasi (UNAGE Iași), PLAI Gallery, and is co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN). Tranzit-ro/ Iasi is part of tranzit.org network. The main partner of tranzit.org is the ERSTE Foundation.
This is a cultural project co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN). The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or for the way the project results can be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.
Visual identity by Skart/Djordje Balmajović.
