#Exhibit of the Month

The work In Memoriam. In Memory of the Heroes Who Fell at the Nistru (1992) was developed within the Center for Culture and Military History and published under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Bureau for Reintegration, and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova. Authors: Gheorghe Bălan, Vitalie Ciobanu, Gheorghe Cojocaru.

This work provides a retrospective of the events that led to the outbreak of the war on the Nistru, accompanied by photographs of the heroes who lost their lives in the battles to defend the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

On March 2, 1992, the political conflict in the Nistru region escalated into a true fratricidal war. Under the fabricated pretext of "defending Russia's southern borders," political adventurers from the former Soviet metropolis encouraged Transnistrian separatism by arming secessionist paramilitary groups. At the same time, thousands of mercenary Cossacks and prisoners released early from jails, along with tanks and missiles, were sent against Independent Moldova, in a desperate attempt to revive the fallen empire.

Russia's undeclared war against the Republic of Moldova left behind hundreds of dead and wounded, shattered families, and villages in ruins. More than 50,000 peaceful residents from the conflict zone were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge from the horrors of war.

For the sake of freedom and the future, Moldova's defenders faced death, enduring the hardships and humiliations of war.

During the Nistru war, 198 soldiers of the National Army and 89 personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs lost their lives, while 40 combatants went missing without a trace, and nearly 300 were left disabled.

Virtual Tour

Events Archive

The Opening of the Exhibition "How the Earth Breathes"

January 14, 2025

On January 14, 2025, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the opening of the traveling solo exhibition "How the Earth Breathes" by photographer and filmmaker Dan Mihalcea (Bucharest). This remarkable exhibition highlights the spectacular Mud Volcanoes of Pâclele Mici, Buzău County, Romania, presenting a unique symbiosis of art, science, and the ever-transforming natural world.

The event brought together photography enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those fascinated by rare geological phenomena.

The exhibition features 20 large-format photographs, each inviting viewers to reflect and ponder the relationship between humans and nature. The images capture the unique terrain, stunning formations, and dynamic fluids of the Mud Volcanoes, portraying rare geological processes in an artistic and emotive manner.

During the opening, the museum's General Director, Dr. habil. Eugen Sava, congratulated the artist and emphasized the significance of this project for the National Museum of History of Moldova:

"This exhibition not only showcases a geologically unique area of exceptional rarity but also provides an educational platform, drawing attention to the beauty and fragility of our planet's unique ecosystems."

Dan Mihalcea, the artist behind the works, explained the reasoning behind the title:

"I deliberately left out any punctuation at the end of the title, allowing each viewer to choose the one they feel fits best. It could be a question mark, an exclamation point, left without punctuation, or even a comma after the first word, with subsequent punctuation options as well. Each variation carries a different meaning for the viewer to discover."

At the end of the opening, attendees had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the exhibition, during which the artist shared insights about the photography process and the hidden meanings of the landscapes depicted.

The How the Earth Breathes exhibition is open for visitors until February 9, 2025, in Hall 1 of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 31 August 1989 Street, 121A.