Exploring Moldova's post-Soviet art scene at Coral Gallery
The "Wind of Change" project, initiated by artist Tatiana Fiodorova-Lefter last year, continued with an event at Coral, the first private gallery in Chișinău.
The gallery was opened in the 1990s in an old urban villa on Eminescu Street by the late Irina Kalașnikova, an art critic and promoter of cultural values, who hosted numerous art programs on our television station and contributed to the creation of the "Moldovan Masters of the 20th Century" collection.
The project's creator invited people to visit one of the first private galleries from the post-Soviet era, which played a key role in the cultural changes of that time.
"You can see important artists, such as Alexandru Tinei, who may not be widely known in Moldova but is highly recognized abroad, and Mihai Țăruș, who formed the nonconformist Sterlingov group in St. Petersburg. We also have three works by Valentina Bahcevan," said Tatiana Fiodorova-Lefter.
After Irina Kalașnikova's passing, her son Nichita preserved the interior of the small gallery and its collection of paintings, just as it was before.
"The gallery represents a distinct era in cultural life, highly valuable in terms of visual arts, and it is important that people can rediscover this heritage from the 1990s," said Nikita Kalașnikov.
The welcoming space and works of important artists, many of whom now work abroad, were a revelation even for seasoned visitors.
"I am amazed by the works I am seeing here for the first time, such as Mihai Țăruș's work and Alexandru Tinei's. It’s a surprise, and I’m truly delighted to admire these works in such an interesting building," said Victoria Cozmolici, a visual artist.
"It’s a space that, unfortunately, didn’t have a future because Irina Kalașnikova passed away too soon, an exceptional researcher. She arrived at a time when none of us were ready for the art market. She opened one of the first galleries, and this project by Tatiana Fiodorova is welcome because it recalls what happened in the 1990s," said Tudor Zbârnea, Director of the National Museum of Art.
The Wind of Change project is funded by the Swiss Government. The gallery can be visited on Fridays and Saturdays, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, until February 21. Entrance is free.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
