Natalia Irina Roman: in∙ner transit | Art installation reimagining the everyday experience of commuting

Our visual arts program is in full swing with another highlight of female creativity. On a quest to reimagine the everyday experience of commuting, Berlin-based Romanian artist and curator Natalia Irina Roman will present the installation "in∙ner transit" a poetic invitation to assess the power of art to repurpose aging infrastructure in major cities. The project, based on extensive research into the transportation systems of New York, Berlin and Bucharest, explores the intricacies of urban mobility through a compelling mix of media, offering a fresh perspective on the rhythms, emotions and narratives embedded in the act of commuting.

The installation will be on view in the lobby and window of the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York from April 12 through June 20, 2024. This choice of venue is intentional, as "in∙ner transit" not only addresses the theme of public transportation, but also responds to the transitory nature of the space, reflecting the constant movement of commuters.

Incorporating elements of video, textual intervention, and participatory engagement, the installation is designed to engage visitors to the Institute as well as passersby. Visitors are encouraged to contribute their reflections and associations of transportation to enrich a collective textual artwork installed in the lobby.

The opening event, which will take place on April 12 from 6 to 8 pm, will be complemented by an artist's talk designed to contextualize "in∙ner transit" within the larger field of Roman practice, thereby fostering a nuanced appreciation of the intersection of art and public transportation.

Join us on an exploratory journey through the inner realms of urban transit, as "in∙ner transit" invites us to pause, reflect, and rediscover the beauty hidden in the routines of our daily journeys.

Created by Berlin-based Romanian artist and curator Natalia Irina Roman, the mixed media installation reimagines the everyday experience of commuting, responding to the space of the Romanian Cultural Institute's lobby and its transitory nature, designed to serve both the Institute's visitors and passersby.

Exploring the intricacies of urban mobility through a compelling mix of media, the installation offers a fresh perspective on the rhythms, emotions, and narratives embedded in the act of commuting, and functions as a poetic invitation for viewers to explore and question the pervasive influence of public transportation infrastructure in urban centers such as New York, Berlin, and Bucharest.

In contrast to the predominantly functional mindset that characterizes our approach to everyday travel, "in∙nner transit" invites us to draw inspiration from this commonplace activity. The accompanying video synthesizes images of commuter trains into an evocative continuum - an allegorical "train of thought" in which the inner self is always in transit.

Complementing this is a poetic text overlay that blends into the windows, its ethereal presence illuminated by light reflections and movement, drawing the attention of passersby.

Central to the installation's interactive dimension is audience participation. Visitors are encouraged to contribute their personal reflections and associations of rail travel, enriching a collective textual artwork installed in the lobby space.