Gili Mocanu: Don’t Cry Anymore, Gili

Arsmonitor, Bucharest, RO

By Maxime Foucquet

September 26, 2024

Arsmonitor is presenting a solo exhibition by Gili Maconu titled “Don’t Cry Anymore, Gili” in Bucharest, Romania. Curated by Silviu Pădurariu, the exhibition runs from September 19 to November 7, 2024, challenging visitors to confront Mocanu’s paintings without the interpretative crutches often provided by the academic and critical establishments. Instead, it encourages an unmediated, personal encounter with the artwork, asking viewers to consider who is truly observing whom, emphasizing the tragicomic limits of our own arguments and the subjective nature of art interpretation.

Mocanu’s art stands distinctly apart from reactive or narrative-driven contemporary practices. It does not seek to comment on social or cultural circumstances but exists as a visual metaphor that transcends narrative confines and explores the boundless capabilities of the mind. The works resist traditional analysis and instead function as gateways to sub-natural and supernatural realms, offering glimpses into worlds composed of complex signs and symbols, revisiting the semantics of art. The philosophy of the exhibition is influenced by thinkers like Hans Belting and Aby Warburg, emphasizing the iconic, almost mystical power of images that dominate viewer perceptions in a manner akin to possession.

This dynamic reveals an often unsettling interaction between the viewer and the artwork, where the image acts not as a passive object but as an active, enveloping presence. As a result, “Don’t Cry Anymore, Gili” confronts the epistemological frameworks of truth, history, and cultural politics that often dominate art discourse. Instead, it suggests that the essence of an image is elusive and resists simplification into words or clear, rational thought. It proposes that viewers relinquish their need for control and understanding, allowing themselves to be overtaken by the art.

For more information, please consult Arsmonitor’s website here.