Arts Lab 7.0: Eva Below | Month VI

Dear Journal, This period was very dynamic, challenging and full of meaningful activities. I participated in several events, meetings, and exhibitions while continuing to develop my personal artistic work and working on our own Cucuteni exhibition.

In early February, we went to Bucharest for the Mid-Term Evaluation, a three-day course led by the Romanian ESC National Agency. During the following weeks, I participated in planning meetings and worked on preparing materials. At the same time, I focused on developing my personal artwork and documenting my creative process. 

An important part of this period was connecting with local cultural institutions. We visited the Cucuteni Museum in Iași to explore cultural heritage and reflect on how historical narratives and emotions can inspire artistic creation. We also attended the vernissage of the Romanian Sculptors’ Month 2026. This event is part of a large cultural program held in Iași between February 19 and March 19, celebrating contemporary Romanian sculpture and marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of the renowned sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. During this time, the city hosts dozens of exhibitions and artistic events, turning many public and cultural spaces into an open museum accessible to the public. The vernissage was held at the Baia Turcească Center for Contemporary Art, a museum and cinema space located in the restored Turkish Baths. I am very sensitive to Ottoman architecture, and this 1898 building is one of my favourites in Iași. Among the artworks showcased in the building, I was particularly interested in the one made by Felix Aftene.

On the 27th of February, I organized the French Cultural Night. I invited the participants on a “Tour de France” through games related to art, sports, and culture. We closed the evening with a degustation of French cheeses bought at the French delicacy shop Travagant in Iași.

At the beginning of March, we opened the Cucuteni exhibition at the HUB. This exhibition was particularly challenging for me, as I was not able to produce an artwork that I wanted to exhibit. I experienced a very hardcore creative block. I had decided to create a puppet and perform while singing, but I sat at my station day after day feeling completely empty and creatively exhausted. The challenge of our work as artists in Arts Lab 7.0 is that we are expected to remain productive almost constantly. Even when we are not working on a specific exhibition, we attend many events and are always active. This dynamic of moving from project to project sometimes makes it difficult to create. On top of that, there were tensions in the house. I was not directly involved, but being caught in the crossfire while feeling creatively exhausted made it impossible for me to present something for the Cucuteni exhibition. During the event, I initially tried to perform but decided not to force myself and instead helped other artists with the interactive parts of their artworks. After the exhibition, things slowly started to get better, and I am now gradually healing this creative block and trying to rediscover some fun in what I do. 

One particularly nice moment was the Mărțișor event at Ion Creangă School. Mărțișor is a traditional Romanian celebration on March 1st marking the arrival of spring, when people give small symbolic charms tied with red and white thread as a sign of luck, renewal, and friendship. After that, we began spending more time at the Open HeArt HUB to discuss projects, plan activities, and introduce the next subject we will be working on: emotions. We now have the opportunity to host our own projects. I am currently working on organizing a weekly Snack and Craft event (inspired by Drink and Draw events). These days I am working on the communication and promotion of this event.

This period was emotionally intense and very instructive. At the beginning, I felt motivated and curious, especially during the Mid-Term Evaluation and the visits to cultural institutions in Iași. Discovering exhibitions, architecture, and artworks gave me a lot of inspiration and reminded me why I enjoy working in the cultural field.

However, when preparing for the Cucuteni exhibition, I experienced a very strong creative block. I felt frustrated and exhausted, especially because I usually rely on creativity as something natural and spontaneous. Being unable to produce an artwork made me question myself and my practice as an artist. The fast pace of activities and the tensions in the house also made it more difficult to focus and recover creatively.

Despite these difficulties, there were also positive and encouraging moments. Organizing the French Cultural Night was very enjoyable, and I was happy to see participants engage with the activities and share a relaxed cultural moment together. The Mărțișor event and the time spent planning new projects at the Open HeArt HUB also helped me reconnect with the playful and social side of artistic work.

Overall, this period was a mix of frustration, reflection, and gradual recovery.

One of the main things I have learned during this period is that creativity cannot always be forced. Working continuously from project to project can sometimes lead to exhaustion, and it is important to recognize when the mind and body need time to rest or change rhythm. I also realized that artistic work in a collective environment involves many external factors: collaboration, communication, and sometimes tension between people. Learning how to stay focused on personal work while sharing a living and working space with others is an important skill.

Another important lesson was understanding that contributing to a project does not always mean producing a finished artwork. During the Cucuteni exhibition, I supported other artists and helped with the interactive parts of their work. This reminded me that cultural projects are collective experiences where every form of contribution can be valuable.

Finally, planning my own event has helped me develop organizational and communication skills. Promoting and preparing the Snack and Craft event has made me think more about audience engagement and how to create accessible creative spaces for people.

In the coming months, I want to focus on rebuilding my creative energy and approaching artistic work in a healthier and more playful way. Instead of putting pressure on myself to produce quickly, I want to allow more experimentation and exploration in my process.

One of my main goals is to successfully launch the Snack and Craft event. I hope this weekly gathering will create a relaxed environment where people can meet, create together, and share ideas. Organizing this event will also allow me to develop my skills in facilitation and cultural mediation.

I also plan to continue exploring the theme of emotions, which will be the next focus of our work at the HUB. This topic connects strongly with my personal artistic interests, and I would like to experiment with research, objects, and storytelling as possible forms of expression.

Overall, my intention for the next months is to regain confidence in my creative process, continue learning through collaboration, and create spaces where art can be shared in an open and welcoming way.

This monthly report was written by Eva Below, our French volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.