Crippled Thoughts from the Mobile Biennale 2017 (Part 1)

29.07.2017 (Saturday)
Cluj-Napoca
Dead drunk father with daughter outside Cluj train station; might be a 10-year-old, tucking him into bed on a bench while standing herself

30.07.2017 (Sunday)
Dolhasca
Approximately 13-15-year-olds smoking in front of a bar outside a train station that seems lost in time and somewhat abandoned. Accordion players join the party
Paşcani
No lawn mowers in these parts of the country
Iaşi
Around 8 o'clock, just saw the second man with missing hands after 20 minutes in town
Had to return to the train coach for a last check of the cabin in case I've forgotten something
Going around this traffic circle trying to get across, no visible way for people (pedestrians) to do that
2nd couple of Jehovah's Witness missionaries that passes me by. This time no invitation. Some congress on "Hope" this week
Beautiful "old times" bridge left to disintegrate in the center of town
Romanian language sounding like Russian from afar
Macho talk on river banks, girls pretending to laugh
3rd man with hand issue using mobility helper. No missing limbs here though
Déjà vu – 2 mothers each with her own daughter pass me by 30 seconds apart, mothers with purses, daughters with backpacks, heading same direction
Seems to be today's issue – hands – just saw the 5th man with hand afflicted pass me by
Old lady hiding her hand in the jacket, looks like it’s missing (6th)
Trying to connect or at least bring to tangible distance something rather unreachable and seemingly impossible to experience
All the towns gold seems to be buried under those churches downtown
The thought that contact between different individuals is even possible brings to mind images of rubber balls trying to melt into one another
Drinks in a former Securitate torture house feels a bit surreal but kind of works none the less
Watching stupid comedy back at hotel

31.07.2017 (Monday)
Iaşi
2 individuals (man and woman) pass by with difficult, slightly affected walk
No hands lady (7th)
Iron cast foundry – master caster with arms the size of my legs making beautifully coordinated movements while lifting and maneuvering casts. Amazing precision
Heavy sorrow in the middle of what looks like a scrap heap site but is in fact a running business
Dark thoughts revolving the mechanics of how determined by external factors our life really is
Waiting for something important to emerge, something abstract enough that it has the power to properly excite the mind

01.08.2017 (Tuesday)
In motion, Târgu Neamţ area
Everything seems church owned around these parts, brings Middle Ages to mind
Impossible to preserve this lifestyle or the mere understanding of it, it is surely doomed
What the heck is national identity anyway?
The beauty of the landscape is almost painful, feeling condemned to love and forget it
Trying to fill in gaps of understanding with what are rather platitudes
This is a vacation – art happens elsewhere
Compelled to put down anything depressing I can think of
The misfortune of being born in a marginal country and one that does not feel obliged to export and implicitly conquer other lands with its cultural product, specifically art, even more specifically me
Animal prison visit around 2 o'clock in the afternoon
Funny lady's skirt pulled by dogs playing, a wonder to watch
Seemingly deep spirituality surrounding the Voroneţ Monastery as it stands above the trees and is properly embedded into the lines of the forest. The place is spiritual, not necessarily the people
Purpose a bit altered as people choose to ignore suggested activities
Big thought, big knowledge, little understanding
Overwhelming history crushing the present

02.08.2017 (Wednesday)
Vama, Liteni
8 o'clock AM – somewhat noisy sunny morning, animal (bird) sounds melting with cars and electrical saws
Inter-regional rivalries make everybody's loss
Another uneventful day ahead, somewhat worried looking forward at having spiritual mushrooms at the Zidaru family refuge
Well written choreography that catches the spiritual eye and treats/pleases/fools the mind. Credible to a large extent but none the less choreography
Lifestyle mimicking the primitive, the simple, bare – ambiguous in what exactly it transpires
The intellectual artist – a parasite playing the part of the village super skilled artisan – commanding respect and repulsion at the same time
The human aspect of it feels compelling, makes me want to come back for a second look/chance