OUT OF PLACE - CROSSING BORDERS
The 15th Havana Biennial
Centre of Contemporary Art Wifredo Lam
Havana, Cuba
November 15, 2024 - February 28, 2025
Curator
Belu Simion Făinaru
Artists
Ciprian Mureşan, Ion Grigorescu, Alex Mirutziu, Irina Botea Bocan, Sebastian Moldovan, Simion Cernica, Pavel Braila, Răzvan Anton, Şerban Savu, Cristian Opriş, Bogdan Rata, Ştefan Liviu-Florian and Daniel Knnor
The exhibition Out of Place - Crossing Borders, curated by Belu Simion Făinaru, graces the 15th edition of the Havana Biennial, unfolding in the heart of Cuba's vibrant capital from November 15, 2024, to February 28, 2025. Featuring the works of 13 Romanian artists, this marks a historic moment—Romania’s inaugural participation in the renowned Havana Biennial, which has been shaping the global art landscape for over four decades.
Out of Place - Crossing Borders explores the fluid and complex interplay of identity, place, time, and individuality within the ever-evolving currents of global culture. The exhibition offers a thoughtful critique of local identity and cultural belonging, set against the backdrop of today’s rapidly transforming world.
At its core, the exhibition aspires to forge a dialogue—an open space where voices meet without the need for victors or vanquished. It is a reminder of our entanglement in the global crisis unfolding around us: we are both shaped by it and bear the power to shape its resolution. In this sense, the exhibition becomes a mirror of the times, reflecting our collective responsibility in the face of change.
Offering an alternative platform, Out of Place - Crossing Borders highlights the cultural impact of local processes, focusing on community-oriented art - art that transcends borders and unites diverse peoples and cultures. Through its innovative approach, it underscores the vital role of art in creating connections across geographical, political, and cultural divides.
This exhibition is a landmark collaboration between the Havana Biennale and the Mediterranean Biennale, celebrating a first: for the first time in 40 years, Romanian artists are participating in the Havana Biennale, marking a historic chapter in the cultural exchange between nations.
Belu Simion Făinaru, an artist and curator born in Romania, is the visionary behind this project. Făinaru is also the founder and director of the Mediterranean Contemporary Art Biennale in Israel, where he has nurtured cross-cultural dialogue through art. A professor at the University of Haifa, Israel, Făinaru represented Romania at the Venice Biennale in 2019, in a groundbreaking collaboration that fused his Romanian-Israeli identity.