Superorganic Landscapes: Aesthetic Perspectives on Sustainable Urban Living
(Sustainable Urban Living)

The project Superorganic Landscapes: Aesthetic Perspectives on Sustainable Urban Living was selected following the Sustainable Urban Living  open call, organized by the Cluj Cultural Center as part of the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities: Planning, Piloting, Inspiring project.  

The artistic team is composed of two artist families, one from Iceland (Baldvin Einarsson and Valgerður Sigurðardóttir) and one from Romania (musz/Cristina Curcan and Lucian Indrei). The artists met in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Supermarket Art Fair for artist-run spaces in 2014. During that year each of the artists were coordinators of artist-run spaces they co-founded in their respective countries (Kunstschlager in Reykjavik, Iceland and Lateral ArtSpace in Cluj-Napoca, Romania). Later on, each of the members had the chance to visit each other, understanding the multitude of cultural differences, specific to each country. The project fosters a dialogue between the artists, supporting a direct collaboration in creating new artistic interventions and artworks. 

At the heart of sustainable living is a profound respect for nature. The project highlights the intrinsic connections between urban life and the natural world, urging individuals to nurture and protect their environments. The artists create works that celebrate local ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and inspire a deeper appreciation for the often-overlooked natural beauty in urban settings, emphasizing material reuse, recycling, and the essential role of nature in city life. By integrating art into everyday spaces, the project encourages residents to reflect on their relationship with the environment and the impact of their daily choices.

The works are presented in a group exhibition at Contemporar — Familiar Tides, Unfamiliar Shores and also in various locations throughout Cluj-Napoca.

The project is funded by EEA and Norwegian Grants, through the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development, and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI). The project consortium is coordinated by the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca and includes partners from Romania, Iceland, and Norway: Cluj Cultural Center (call organizer), Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania), Federation of Youth from Cluj (Romania), Pont Group (Romania), Metapolis Architects (Romania), Reykjavik Art Museum (Iceland), Institute of Urbanism and Landscape (Oslo, Norway).
Special thanks to Emese Apai, Gergely Osváth, Dana Ștefănoiu, Cluj-Napoca Youth Centre, FAPTE Association, the UBB Museum of Zoology.