The fifth edition of the Art Encounters Biennial - My Rhino Is Not a Myth. art science fictions - will take place between May 19 – July 16, 2023, and is dedicated to the intersection of art, science and fiction, exploring their potential to recover reality as a network of complex processes.

 

Adrian Notz, curator of the Biennale, makes connections between hyper-digital realities, the modernist avant-garde and the world of contemporary art. Adrian Notz is joined by a young team of curators and writers – Cristina Bută, Monica Dănilă, Edith Lázár, Ann Mbuti, Cristina Stoenescu and Georgia Țidorescu – as members of the advisory curatorial collective. Between scientific explorations and imaginative speculations, guest artists delve into unknown stories, anticipating alternative histories. Situated between scientific research and imaginative speculation, the Biennial addresses stories of the unknown and the desire for change, adaptation or subversion.

 

The fifth edition of the Art Encounters Biennial takes place in a special year for Timișoara, which is the European Capital of Culture 2023. Embedded in the current context of the city and exploring Timisoara's ambition to become a hub of technological and innovative transfers, the Art Encounters Biennial invites you from May 19 to 21 to an extremely intense opening weekend, sprinkled with special guests, exciting discussions, performances attractions, projections and artistic events in public space.

 

You will have the opportunity to participate in an extremely intense and attractive program that will contain guided tours with the guest artists and the curator of the Biennial, a conference on the role of NFTs in cultural institutions and immersive art experiences with Auronda Scalera and Alfredo Cramerotti, performance- tours by Arantxa Etcheverria and Anca Munteanu Rimnic, "Cyclops", concert by Carlos Amorales, Enrique Arriaga and Philippe Eustachon, feat. Janiv Oron, tours with a tram populated by the well-known work of the artist Carlos Amorales, Black Cloud, a picnic & informal discussions with the artists, meetings with the artist run spaces in Timișoara (Avantpost, Balamuc / Loc de joacă ș-altele, Baraka, Lapsus , Nava C2, Simultan), as well as the launch of the Art Encounters Biennale Catalog at the "La Doua Bufnițe" Bookstore.

 

The grand opening weekend of the Art Encounters Biennial is also a unique opportunity to take full advantage of the effervescent context of the European Capital of Culture 2023. We promise memorable meetings, passionate discussions and spectacular artistic productions.

---

Opening Weekend Programme

Friday, May 19 th  

• 16:00 – 17:00 – Official Opening of Art Encounters Biennial 2023 (ISHO area)
• 17.00 – 18:00 – Guided tours with artists and curators Art Encounters Foundation, ISHO
  Offices and ISHO D
• 18:00 – 18:30 – Complementary platform events – AVANTPOST, Bastion
• 19:00 – 19:30 – Complementary platform events – LAPSUS  

Saturday, May 20 th  

• 10:00 – 12:00 – Guided tours with artists and curators (Timișoara Garrison, public space
  artworks and The National Museum of Banat/ Huniade Castle)
• 12:30 – 13:00 – Guided tours with artists and curators, The National Museum of Art
  Timișoara
• 14:30 – 15:30 – Tram Tour (Tram no. 6) with Carlos Amorales, Black Cloud
• 15:30 – 17:00 Conference “Transitions: from Contemporary to Digital, and Back Again”
  by Alfredo Cramerotti and Auronda Scalera at The National Museum of Art Timișoara
• 18:00 – 19:30 – Guided tours with artists and curator (STPT Multiplexity and Faber)
• 19:00 – Performance Arantxa Etcheverria, BABEL, at Faber
• 21:00 – Opening party SPONTAN FEST x ART ENCOUNTERS, at Faber

Sunday, May 21 st  

• 11:00 – 13:00 – Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe – Picnic with artists, guests and curators, and visit
  of the exhibition Expanded Nature at the Urseni Water Treatment Plant
• 13:00 – 14:00 Complementary platform events – BARAKA
• 14:30 - 15:30 – Tram Tour (Tram no. 6) with Carlos Amorales, Black Cloud
• 15:00 – 16:00 – Complementary platform events – BALAMUC
• 16:00 - Performance by Farah Mulla, Aberrant: A Noise performance, at STPT
• 17:00 – 18:00 – Complementary platform NAVA C2, Students Cultural House
• 19:00 – Guided tour “after SCULPTURE / SCULPTURE after”, CAZARMA U