#Exhibit of the Month

This remarkable portrait of Mihai Eminescu, created by artist Alexandru Gușanov, is based on one of the four known photographs of the poet. The photograph that inspired this portrait was taken in 1869 in Wenceslas Square, Prague, when Eminescu was only 19 years old. The oval composition and harmonious color palette highlight the prominent personality and charisma of the young poet, capturing an expression that conveys both melancholy and intellectual depth.
Alexandru Gușanov (1929-2005), a Moldovan painter of Ukrainian origin, distinguished himself through his extensive work, comprising approximately 5,000 pieces - portraits, landscapes, and still life paintings. Settled in Moldova since 1945, Gușanov graduated from the Republican Art School "I.E. Repin" in Chișinău in 1952. His works were showcased in numerous national and international exhibitions and were highly appreciated in countries such as France, Hungary, Russia, and Yugoslavia. The artist dedicated a significant part of his career to creating portraits of historical and cultural figures, including Dimitrie Cantemir, Mihail Kogălniceanu, and Alexei Mateevici, which are part of the National Museum of History of Moldova's collection.

The subject of the portrait, Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), is the most significant poet in Romanian literature, whose works reflect profound thought, sensitivity toward nature, and national identity. At the age of 19, when the photograph that inspired this portrait was taken, Eminescu was in the midst of his intellectual formation, preparing to become the iconic voice of Romanian culture. Among his most famous works is the poem Luceafărul (The Morning Star), a masterpiece of universal literature.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"War Up Close"

August 21 – November 20, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova is pleased to announce the opening of the virtual reality exhibition "War Up Close" on August 21, 2024, at 4:00 PM. This exhibition is organized in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Moldova Office.

"War Up Close" is a virtual reality exhibition aimed at showcasing the scale of the disaster caused by Russia's unjustified war on Ukraine. Through 360-degree panoramic photographs, drone images, and 3D modeling, the exhibition makes the nature of this war tangible, highlighting the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the suffering of millions of Ukrainians.

The exhibition immerses visitors in pre- and post-war images, offering a raw, unfiltered view of the human cost of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. It also provides visitors with the opportunity to "walk through" and virtually explore areas, viewing 360-degree images from fixed locations via viewing devices.

The project was initiated by experts from Ukraine's Discover.ua and FreegenGroup, who, despite the dangers, mapped the crimes against Ukraine for future generations to preserve the memory of this tragedy using experienced photojournalists and state-of-the-art technology.

Mykola Omelchenko, Ukraine's first Google Trusted Photographer, began photographing for "War Up Close" during a period when the Russian government denied responsibility for military strikes on non-military targets, such as residential areas and cultural centers, claiming instead that the Ukrainian government was falsifying or altering images of the destruction. Omelchenko wanted people to explore the images themselves, so they are presented without captions or commentary. "The essential goal of the project is to show the reality of war in a way that it can no longer be denied," stated Omelchenko.

The "War Up Close" project team works closely with Ukraine's Emergency Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The panoramic views and drone images assist rescue teams in removing debris and assessing the true impact of the destruction. The team also specializes in 3D modeling of historical monuments and buildings.

The exhibition also includes a selection of war-time artifacts and links to 360-degree images that can be viewed without virtual reality equipment.

Since its launch in 2022, "War Up Close" has been presented in locations worldwide, including Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and North America, attracting a significant number of visitors. For more information, visit https://war.city.

The exhibition "War Up Close" will be open from August 21 to November 20, 2024, in Hall No. 2 of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 31 August 1989 Street, 121A.

#Exhibit of the Month

Portrait of Mihai Eminescu by Alexandru Gușanov

"War Up Close"

August 21 – November 20, 2024

#Exhibit of the Month