The third edition of Art Battle takes place at the Bragadiru Palace on April 27 – Metropolis Newspaper

From rap duels to painting, with the same tenacity

For many, the film 8 Miles was the first contact with the practice and culture of rap duels, but they had been organized for a long time in the United States, they were a well-established part of urban culture, as were breakdancing and street art competitions. In 2001, the competition Art Battle was initiated in New York by Sean Bono, Simon Plashkes and Chris Pemberton, emulating the energy and challenges of rap duels, where artists push their skill and agility to the limit, in front of an audience and a jury, over several successive rounds. This new competitive format has since reached over 2,000 editions in 20 countries around the world.

In addition to the performance of the live painting competition structured in three rounds, in which the 12 selected artists, having only 20 minutes per round, give their best to create original works right in front of the public, viewers have direct access to the creative process. 11 artists have already been selected following the open call: Adela Silvan, Bianca-Raluca Stoia, Cosmin Alin Vâlceanu, Elena Daria Popa, Ioana Carmen Marinescu, Ioana Ingrid Mândroc, Ionuț Stănel Cristea, Maria Luana Georgescu, Nectaria Ioana Guraliuc, Pieer Luigi Bertig and Ștefania Georgiana Truică and the twelfth artist will be announced on the day of the event, before the start of the competition, being selected from among the artists present interested in participating.

Witness, critic and even collector

In the Art Battle, the audience is organically and fully drawn into the game: they are encouraged to watch the creation of works live in each round, and then vote for their favorite artists, thus becoming the jury and contributing to the evolution of the battle in the final round. Moreover, every work produced in Art Battle is open for bidding to the public, so that at the end of the event, the most ardent supporters can take home their favorite works. This way of doing things truly democratizes the audience’s interaction with art, regardless of the degree of familiarity each participant has with contemporary visual languages; everyone is welcome, all opinions are valid!

Gone is the oppressive and intimidating atmosphere associated with classic art galleries! A DJ mixes live music during the competition rounds and the events Art Battle often interspersed with other forms of artistic expression, to keep participation alive even in the breaks between rounds.

An unconventional art fair

The third edition Art Battle is supported in this sense by a new edition of the fair re-LEAForganized by The Art Cell and by Săfițicuminți. The limited series art event aims to present to the public small series of artworks made by cyanotype, serigraphy, collage, engraving, analog photography, daguerreotype, graphics, monotype, print, original works or personal copies inspired by famous works, all with affordable prices for all art lovers and collectors.

The third edition of Art Battle is organized by e-consulting, The Hub & Art Cell.

Partners: Magazinul Artistilor, Pop Cola, Magura Zamfirei.

Celula de Artă is an independent cultural project led by artists (artist-run), which debuted in 2017 and manifests itself in multiple permanent or temporary contemporary art spaces. The project was born from the desire to promote emerging art creators. Most of the exhibited artists are students, masters or recent graduates. The main criterion in the selection of projects is the courage, experiment, freshness and actuality of the topics addressed. With a presence of over 6 years on the Bucharest art scene, Celula de Artă has supported over 200 events (exhibitions, performances, live shows).

In parallel, in the spaces of the Art Cell there are three more ongoing exhibitions – Gray Areaof the artist Beaverhosted by ArtSafewhich can be visited from Monday to Friday, between 10:30 and 18:00. The second is the artist’s Laura Sima and is titled Locus Sigilsbeing exhibited in the aquarium space of The Art Cellon Bd. Carol no. 53where it can be seen at any time, until the date of May 18. At the Vertical Gallery in the premises Random Space (Strada Popa Petre 21) the artist Cristina Dinu made a metal sculpture live during the event “Metal Poetry”which will continue to be exhibited until the date of May 26.

Also, on April 24, starting at 19:00, it will also take place in the Pop-Up showcase at Kulterra Gallery (str. Știrbey Vodă 104 – 106) the opening of the exhibition Fresh & Bone, by the artist Ingrid Juncariu, a series of 4 paintings illustrating the cycle of life, a chronological itinerary from the stage of a child to the stage of matter in a state of disintegration.

More details about the events can be found on Celula de Artă’s Facebook and Instagram.