Exhibition Dedicated to the “16 Days of Activism” Campaign Opens at Europe Café
Europe Café, the main EU Information Centre in Chișinău, is hosting an exhibition by Natalia Romanciuc from November 28 until the end of December as part of the international “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. Through her works, Natalia Romanciuc – though she does not depict violence directly – conveys messages of femininity, resilience, identity, and strength.
“My mission is to show people that the woman is at the center of my paintings. I never say what I do not know or what I am not. Through my art, I try to highlight principles such as God, personality, destiny, character, and others. My works are autobiographical, and this is another reason why the image of the woman is so important in my art,” Natalia Romanciuc stated in a video message to the audience at the opening of her exhibition at Europe Café.
The exhibition’s opening was attended by Iwona Piórko, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, who emphasized the EU’s commitment to supporting efforts to prevent and combat gender-based violence: “Culture and art are among the most expressive voices of change. Natalia Romanciuc’s works remind us that art speaks when words fall silent. These portraits of women are profound calls for empathy, solidarity, and action. Exhibitions like this open spaces for dialogue, reflection, and a shared commitment to a future free from violence.”
The launch event also featured painter Eugen Gorean, who brought a male perspective to the exhibition’s theme. Stylistically, his works present a realistic vision of a temporal world where the animal becomes the alter ego of man. His paintings combine figurative expression with elements of mystery, discussing a world in decline in the post-pandemic era, utopian ideas, and subtle satire of social conveniences, all within a traditional artistic language. Gorean’s works complement the visual dialogue of the exhibition and highlight how diverse perspectives contribute to a complex understanding of the phenomenon of violence.
About the Artist
Natalia Romanciuc, born in 1996 in the Republic of Moldova, discovered her passion for painting at the age of 17. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Chișinău, graduating in 2019. Since then, she has consistently built her artistic path, defining an expressionist-figurative style with accents of modern symbolism. At the heart of her works is the female body, often portrayed as a symbol of strength, femininity, maternity, and divinity. Technically, the artist explores the distortion of the body to convey mental, emotional, and spiritual states, inviting the viewer to introspection and empathy.
About the Exhibition
Natalia Romanciuc’s exhibition represents a dialogue between art and activism, offering an intense visual experience. The exhibition will be open to the public from November 28 until the end of December 2025 at Europe Café, located at 97 Șciusev Street, Chișinău. The event is organized in partnership with Cartego Art Gallery, and admission is free for all those interested in discovering the artist’s messages and universe.
The National Campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” – “Moldova Without Violence” marks one of the most powerful national campaigns in the last 20 years, based on a common visual narrative and a unified message from state institutions. From November 25 to December 10, 2025, the campaign will involve public institutions, local communities, and international partners in a coordinated effort to inform and mobilize. Under the unifying message “Moldova Without Violence,” this year’s edition places a major emphasis on recognizing digital violence as a real form of abuse. The campaign aims to raise awareness of online risks and protection mechanisms for victims, with the powerful message “#NOEXCUSE for digital violence.”
In Moldova, more than half of women (65%) aged 18 and over who are active online have experienced some form of digital violence in their lifetime. These attacks extend beyond the virtual space, with real-life consequences, sometimes escalating into physical violence.
