Journal of a Hole
"Journal of a Hole" reflects on the 30 years of in/dependence of the post-Soviet Republic of Moldova. Over three decades of in/dependence, the country experienced periods of communism, pseudo-Europeanism, and oligarchy. The focal point is the Soviet symbol of a typical red carpet, an essential element highlighting the procedural pomposity of welcoming officials and concealing "the ugliness" of reality and all the holes drilled in democracy.
The assemblage unveils two symbols: a hole in the road (an existential reference to transition) and a red carpet (symbolizing power, communism, colonialism, and patriarchy, as the Republic of Moldova has been governed solely by men during its 30 years of in/dependence). The film incorporates sound excerpts, primarily final cadences from the presidential inaugurations (featuring the same old promises in speeches) of the five Presidents of the Republic of Moldova since post-Soviet Independence (1991). It also includes sound from the presidential inaugurations of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic, starting from The Great National Assembly in 1989, and subsequently in 1990, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2021. For three decades men marched trough Moldova's ''red vector'', landing it. until a new type of shoes on the high heels stepped onto the red carpet, those of the first female President.
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Valeria BarbasDirector
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Valeria BarbasProducer
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Project Title (Original Language):Jurnalul unei găuri
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Project Type:Experimental, Short, Web / New Media, Other
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Genres:videoart
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Runtime:4 minutes 18 seconds
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Completion Date:May 5, 2021
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Production Budget:0 USD
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Country of Origin:Moldova, Republic of
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Country of Filming:Moldova, Republic of
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Shooting Format:digital
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Valeria Barbas, (born 1984) is a multi-media artist, based in Republic of Moldova. Having multidisciplinary artistic background, she studied for a B.A. and a M.A. in music composition, Moldovan Academy of Music, Theatre and Art. B.A. in painting, State Pedagogical University, V. Barbas combines in hers projects different mediums. Her art-investigations, also have an scientific realm, she is also PhD in study of art and culturology, author of a book dedicated to contemporary music: new music from Moldova. Researcher at the Institute of Cultural Patrimony, Academy of Sciences, Moldova. Member of Moldovan Union of Painters, Union of Composers and Musicologists, Association of women in moldovan cinematography.
Collaborates from 2008 as an artist with moldovan Center for contemporary art KSAK. Author and director of TV program ”Zona Ars” about moldovan contemporary art scene 2019-present at Moldova Public Company TV Moldova 1.
Having a different background, Valeria Barbas is activating as a film director, and as performer of her own projects, the exploration of audio-visual field in (dis)connection, co/presence with the body are one of her main interest.
Working medium: painting, performance,video-art, sound, installation, film.
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Projects: video-art and performance at European Cultural Festival TANDEM of performance, RM (2012);video-art, performance at GHOST PAVILION campaign, part of ATLANTIS’11 and HEICO project at Venice Biennale (ed.54, 2011, IT);performance at SPACES project- sustainable public areas for culture in Eastern countries,Oberliht Association, RM(2013);video-art at Art as Civic Action,Citizens of Europe,2014 Berlin;Video-art ”Amitie” at What are our ruins?project Moldova-Russia-France,KSAK,RM&Les Ateliers du Vent, FR; Claxymphonie short doc.film, selected at Cronograf Documentary Film Festival, R.Moldova; sound project at contemp.art group exh., Zacheta Project Room,Warsaw; Wärmepol installation project, collab. with Frank Schulte (DE), organised by [KSA:K]Center for contemporary art&Goethe Institut, R. Moldova. She participated in workshops of documentary film in the frame of Moldox Festival of documentary film 2016, 2017, Republic of Moldova,tutors: Melody Gilbert (USA), Johanna Bernhardson (Sweden); workshops for directors and producers of documentaries, organized by TELEFILM Atelier, USA Embassy, Republic of Moldova (tutors Thomas Ciulei,Giovanni Robbiano, Peter Badac).
- New media art residency , ”CoLaboratory” from Goethe Institut, Romania/ German Cultural Center Akzente,Moldova, project in tandem with german artist G.Stockmann. (august-september, 2020)
- Art/text residency Verbarium Covid-19 story research edition 20-21, organized by Center of Cultural Projects Azart, supported by Swiss Cooperation in Moldova, curated by Ariane Koch. (january-february, 2021)
- School of New Practices of Coexistence, Tok Curators, Sankt Petersburg (march-june, 2021)