INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIPS OR DISTURBING GUESTS? ARTISTIC EXCHANGES IN SOCIALIST ROMANIA DURING THE 1950’S
Études balkaniques (Sofia) 2024, N 4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.62761/645.EB.LX4.02
Irina CĂRĂBAȘ
University of Bucharest, National University of Arts, Bucharest, Romania
Abstract: The article explores the role of cultural diplomacy in Socialist Romania during the 1950s, focusing on three key art exhibitions that took place in Bucharest. These exhibitions, featuring works by Italian, French, and Mexican artists, were part of broader diplomatic efforts to connect Romania with the West and the Third World. The study highlights how these cultural exchanges, initiated by institutions like the Romanian Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, were instrumental in fostering transnational networks and reshaping Socialist Realism. It also examines the complex interactions between Romanian cultural diplomacy and international actors, revealing how these exhibitions contributed to both diplomatic achievements and internal debates on the future of Socialist Realism. By analyzing these events, the article provides new insights into the cultural and political dynamics of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War, emphasizing Romania’s unique position within this global context.
Keywords: Cultural diplomacy, Eastern Europe, art exhibitions, transnational exchanges, Socialist Realism