Romania takes part in the Village de la Francophonie, running in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from November 13 to 17, alongside the 20th Francophonie Summit, with a cultural and institutional programme aimed at raising the profile of Romanian culture in the Francophone world and developing new opportunities for international cooperation.
According to a statement by ARTEXIM, Romania’s participation is conceived as a cultural diplomacy platform, bringing together heritage, contemporary creation, new technologies and professional dialogue to promote a modern and dynamic image of Romanian culture internationally.
Under the concept “JEU INFINI – Créer le possible” (INFINITE PLAY – Creating the Possible), Romania presents Francophonie as a space of diversity and creativity, highlighting both its membership of the Francophone community and its historic cultural ties with this area, as well as the potential for new partnerships.
Romania’s participation in the Village de la Francophonie is intended to strengthen its role as an active cultural partner within the Francophone world, showcasing culture both as an expression of national identity and as an instrument of cultural diplomacy.
In the context of the 20th Francophonie Summit, Romania presents an interdisciplinary programme bringing together visual arts, dance theatre, music, literature, heritage and new technologies. Performances, exhibitions, installations and participatory experiences will take place in the Romanian Pavilion and other venues across the Village de la Francophonie.
The programme features internationally recognised Romanian cultural figures, including Dan Perjovschi and Gigi Caciuleanu, alongside projects exploring new forms of artistic expression and intercultural cooperation, such as the musical collaboration between the musical project Subcarpati and Cambodian artist Vanthan.
Dan Perjovschi, one of Romania’s internationally best-known contemporary artists, will present “Dessine-toi!” (Draw Yourself!), a participatory project offering an interactive artistic experience at the Romanian Pavilion. His drawings, displayed on the pavilion walls, will be brought to life through the contributions of children and visitors, who will be invited to colour them and help create a collective artwork. The result of this collaborative experience will be presented on November 17, the final day of the event.
Choreographer Gigi Caciuleanu, whose international career is closely linked to the Francophone world, will present a selection of artistic projects exploring the relationship between dance, technology and new forms of stage expression. Visitors to the Romanian Pavilion will be able to discover three of his creations – “WOLFGANG”, “LUV’s LUV” and “TrioMix” – through VR headsets, in an immersive experience offering a fresh perspective on his choreographic universe.
On November 15, Caciuleanu will also present the show “Da Padam”, featuring actor Lari Giorgescu, a stage encounter between French chanson and Romanian music.
On November 14, the “Traditions in Motion – Subcarpati & Vanthan” project will bring together musicians from the Subcarpati Cultural Centre and Cambodian artist Vanthan (Vanthan Ly), a singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
The exhibition “Visages de la mémoire – Masks, Memory, Identity and Transformation”, created in collaboration with the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant and visual artist Mircea Modreanu, will explore a dialogue between the tradition of Romanian folk masks and the Cambodian artistic universe.
At the initiative of the Romanian Cultural Institute, a round table entitled “Comment construire une marque culturelle internationale” (How to Build an International Cultural Brand) will be held on November 14, focusing on the contribution of Romanian literature to Francophone cultural heritage and the role of literary creation in promoting a cultural identity internationally.
Through this diverse range of projects, Romania presents its cultural heritage as a living resource that inspires contemporary creation and provides opportunities to discover common ground between different traditions and artistic practices.
Located in Wat Botum Park in Phnom Penh, the Romanian Pavilion at the Village de la Francophonie will serve throughout the five-day event as a venue for cultural presentations, public interaction and meetings between artists, professionals and representatives of cultural institutions from various countries.
