#Exhibit of the Month

We find ourselves in the month of April, as we prepare to celebrate Easter-a moveable religious holiday rich in festive rituals and ceremonial activities that place this event at the very heart of Christian spiritual life. The spirit of the Resurrection is beautifully complemented by ten Easter-themed postcards from the heritage of the National Museum of History of Moldova, printed a century ago. These pieces were added to the museum's postcard collection over a decade ago following a successful acquisition; as the fund for Easter-themed illustrations is modest, we are in a constant search for new additions.

These postcards are "extraordinary" in terms of their postal, typographical, and chromatic effects-the primary reason for revisiting this genre of greetings. Unlike "classic" postcards, these are smaller in size (6.5 cm x 11 cm), made of cardboard (with the exception of one piece made of photographic paper in black and white), and feature "vivid" colors. Printed in Romania and Germany, they bear the marks of having been sent and circulated through the post.

The name of the holiday originates from the verb persach, meaning "to pass," a term adopted by the Jews from the Egyptians. It entered the Romanian language through the Byzantine-Latin form Paschae, signifying the "passage through death to life, the victory of life, and liberation from the bondage of sin." Easter is a holiday of tolerance and forgiveness, representing a bridge between the present and the past. The significance of this celebration is conveyed through its symbols, which are also featured on these postcards: Hand-painted eggs, the Easter Bunny and the Lamb, traditional sweet breads (cozonac and pască), biblical scenes related to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter table also features pască-a ritual food reminiscent of ancient, bloodless "reconciliation" sacrifices. Its preparation is the exclusive task of women, the givers of life, as the leavened dough is considered "alive."

The most significant component of the Easter holiday, however, is the Light. The Ceremony of the Holy Light is associated with the miracle of the light appearing on Easter Sunday at Christ's Tomb in Jerusalem. The candle, often depicted in these images, carries a powerful message; it is with the Resurrection candle that we return home after the midnight religious service. Furthermore, the Easter Bunny represents the rebirth of nature, so eagerly awaited after a harsh winter.

Unlike Christmas, when the announcement and ritual integration of the community into sacred time was the duty of caroling groups, at Easter, "one does not go from house to house." Instead, the ritual meal is organized within each family, symbolizing a direct communion with God.

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Opening of the exhibition "Chisinau through time"

October 12, 2022

On October 12, at 16:00, at the National Museum of History of Moldova was opened the exhibition "Chisinau through time" by the fine artist and poet Galina Vieru.

The exhibition "Chisinau through time" includes a series of works based on legends and realities, which reveal the white stone face of this city, indented and polished by time, through its people and centuries. The painting collection calls to knowledge and discovery, to openness and light, to new steps that will seek in the hum of this gigantic nest, its beauty and its charm.

"I prepared this exhibition with a lot of dedication and with a lot of love. I painted the historic buildings, to emphasize their importance in the urban environment, their classical architectural beauty, to show in painting how they shine, how they influence us as residents of this city and to extend their life not only through painting, but also to inspire people to preserve these edifices, to fight for them, to continue to visit them and to emphasize their beauty always. I particularly like two works: the National Philharmonic and the Nativity Cathedral. Chisinau is my home. I've been here since I was 15. Here I found my purpose, love and started a family" said Galina Vieru.

Elena Postică, deputy director of NMHM, mentioned that through this exhibition, the artist and poet Galina Vieru points out the beauty of this city, its charm and pulse, as a sign of gratitude and admiration for it. Just as every place in the world has a story, a history, so the thread of the city of Chisinau springs from a series of legends in which the truth and the mythical, the fantastic and the reality are interwoven.

Inga Edu, the head of the painting section of the Union of Plastic Artists from Moldova, mentioned that Galina Vieru is an artist who loves her country, her native land and everything that is beautiful in our land, including the traditions from the villages that we also see in her works.

The art critic Eleonora Sâdnic noted that Galina Vieru comes with a new perspective on reality, on life and is, as the late writer Nicolae Dabija said, "a poet in painting and a painter in poetry."

The exhibition "Chisinau through time" can be seen on the ground floor of the National Museum of History of Moldova (Str. 31 August 1989 no. 121 A) from October 12 to November 30, 2022.

#Exhibit of the Month

Easter-Themed Postcards

Opening of the exhibition "Chisinau through time"

October 12, 2022

#Exhibit of the Month