Femei. Putere. România

History, as we perceive it, rarely provides an objective or complete reflection of reality. Often, the narrative of history prioritizes specific accounts, leaving many perspectives, voices, and truths in obscurity, reshaped by the ideologies of the time. Nine years ago, Cornel Brad, as a professional photographer, began to portray characters from the political scene and gradually turned his attention to ordinary people, life stories archived in some cases by the former files of the Romanian communist Securitate. This endeavor culminated in the first publication of vernacular photography, “Oameni. Putere. România” (“People. Power. Romania”), which captured personalities, visions, and intimate details about collective experiences that have marked the Romanian society’s mindset. Some portraits from the mentioned photographic book are included in the current exhibition, where feminine characters introduce us to the lives of families and communities that have lived through the transformations of the Romanian State, from monarchy to communism, and finally to democracy, with the December 1989 Revolution marking a turning point.

The exhibition “Femei. Putere. România” (“Women. Power. Romania”) presents an extensive selection of feminine portraits created by Cornel Brad over the past seven years. The portraits can outline more than a hundred years of historical events that have marked Romania and reveal life stories integrated into the larger narrative of history, showcasing the experiences of grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, confidantes, leaders, and businesswomen in our midst. Three generations of women stare back at us, women who have faced and overcome tyranny, injustice, abuse, indifference, and neglect from the institutions meant to protect them, including Ana Blandiana, Doina Cornea, Ioana Voicu-Arnăuțoiu, Herta Müller, Niculina Moica, and Alexandra Furnea, as well as women who have excelled in various fields, such as Mariana Gheorghe, Laura Codruța Kövesi, Constantina Diță, and Alina Șerban. Their biographies illuminate the connections between our lives and the emotions that unite us.

Cornel Brad’s distinctive approach to photography treats these portraits as a community-driven effort for a deeper understanding of identity. Through the selection of faces put forth, we discover five facets of power that define individual and group identity: 1. Faces of Legitimacy – embodying authority and inspiring change; 2. Faces of Sacrifice – whose deep personal sacrifices illuminate the depths of human resilience; 3. Faces of Courage – facing adversity with unwavering strength; 4. Faces of Celebrity – using their influence for important causes; 5. Faces of Forgetting – whose essential contributions have often been overlooked, yet remain foundational to their communities.

The contradictions and complexities of each era shape a varied portrait of women in relation to the diverse power structures that have governed life in Romania. By bringing to the forefront the collective experiences that have marked their personal and professional lives, the series of portraits offers a space for introspection regarding the drivers of individual power and the ideals of the communities of which these women are a part – human forces that have shaped contemporary society. Without major aesthetic pretensions, these photographs open a space for connection with the human faces of power and personal stories, revealing the essential values underlying the struggle for freedom: empathy, awareness, and belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.

As we navigate through these portraits and the confessions behind them, we invite you to consider the following questions: What aspects of these women’s lives resonate with you? What vulnerabilities and collective strengths do you see around you? How can you contribute to creating an environment where freedom of thought and community are part of the solution?

The exhibition “Femei. Putere. România” honors the essential contributions of women to our history and society, but it also invites us to discover the crucial role of vernacular photography in bridging generations. Through these portraits, Cornel Brad captures the personal dimensions of the power held by women in society and builds new connections between the past and the present, between the individual and the community. Constituting a collective portrait, the series of photographs encourages us to reconsider our own perceptions of power.

Curator: Carmen Casiuc