Garden of Eden

Garden of Eden is a visual journey into a mythical space of collective memory, a symbolic reconstruction of the lost paradise through the lens of ethnographic heritage. Organized by the National Heritage Institute within the framework of Art Safari, the exhibition brings to the forefront emblematic pieces from the Marius Matei Ethnographic Collection, offering the public a contemplative experience where tradition meets contemporary sensibility.

The exhibition installation evokes the archetypal image of the Garden of Eden — a sacred space, both real and imagined — where the ornamentation of traditional textiles, video projections, and fine art photography intertwine into a unified visual narrative. The exhibition invites visitors to rediscover forgotten meanings, profound cultural codes, and collective identities, reflected in archaic symbols such as the golden apple or the blooming garden — emblems of immortality, wisdom, and eternal beauty.

At the heart of this artistic endeavor lies the dialogue between the pieces from the ethnographic collection and the photographs of Anna Senik, a visual artist from Ukraine. Through her sensitive lens, traditional costumes and textiles are reinterpreted as forms of identity expression in today’s world, demonstrating the regenerative power of living heritage.

The Marius Matei Ethnographic Collection, composed of over 3,500 items — folk costumes, ornaments, textiles, and vintage photographs — is a portal into the traditional village life of Banat. Beyond its documentary value, the collection is marked by remarkable dynamism, having been exhibited in numerous cultural spaces both in Romania and abroad (Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Hungary, United Arab Emirates), contributing to the reaffirmation of Romanian intangible heritage in a global context.

Heaven’s Garden is, therefore, an exercise in re-enchanting the world — a bridge between past and present, between sacred and aesthetic, between ethnographic object and artistic interpretation. It is an invitation to rediscover our roots through visual language, storytelling, and memory.

Photographs: Anna Senik (Ukraine)
Pieces from the Marius Matei Ethnographic Collection
Curators: Dr. Iulia Gorneanu, Dr. Marius Matei
Scenography: Alexandru Soare, Octavian Grigorescu
Exhibition organized by the National Heritage Institute