Swipe Through Love’s Evolution!

Mark your calendar for our dates on the 31st of August, as well as the 1st, 13th, and 14th of September! The VAR Association, in partnership with 3g HUB, the Comedy Theatre, and Atelier 030202 Gallery, is orchestrating a Cultural Blind Date, an event that seamlessly blends art, history, technology, and social dynamics.

The Cultural Blind Date marks the final conclusion of the Matched Society project, a groundbreaking initiative that traces the evolution of our dating culture from personals in the newspaper to modern dating platforms, with the help of a cross-disciplinary team comprising of artists, cultural operators, and experts in sociology, psychology and IT. The project investigates how these changes have shaped social behaviors and seeks to identify whether or not some communication and dating strategies were passed down through generations.  

Join us and become a part of a cultural experience where we collectively explore the evolution of love and relationships, from 1880s’ newspaper personals to today’s digital swiping.

The Cultural Blind Date includes (without considering the order in which they are presented):

1. A listening session of 18 testimonials set in the theater hall, addressing themes such as partner selection, abuse, bullying and the impact of technology on human connections. These testimonials reveal the intricacies of digital relationships and invite the audience to reflect on their own identity.

2. An interactive display on the ground floor that unveils micro-narratives about love and relationships over the past 150 years. This journey through time connects you to different eras and experiences, allowing you to discover both modern and traditional perspectives on love.

3. Live performance and social interactions – a gathering straddling the line between performance and social engagement, imagined by Andu Dumitrescu and guided by our performers (Bucharest): Florin Aioane, Jenniffer Corrales, Radu Mateucă and Vero Nica / / Tg Mureș: Ștefania Buftea, Vlad Haneș, Alexandra Moldovan, Ștefan Mura – nn experience where the boundaries between art and social interaction disappear.

Participants will receive customized accessories prepared exclusively for this event. 

Suitable for ages 15 and up. 

Duration: 1h 30 min.

Free entry with prior reservation only at var.cult@gmail.com. 

Team:

Concept and Interactive Display: Vero Nica

Software Developer: Andrei Luchian (Ashu)

Micro-Narratives: Andu Dumitrescu, Oana Hodade, Vero Nica

Narrators: Jenniffer Corrales, Ionuț Grama, Florina Maria, Vlad Nemeș, Vero Nica, Mihai Vasilescu

Artistic Coordinator of Audio Recordings: Jenniffer Corrales

Editing/Montage of Testimonials: Vlaicu Golcea

Conceptual Design for Costumes and Accessories worn by performers: Cristina Milea

Artistic Process Documentation: Alina Grau

Website Graphic Design: Andu Dumitrescu

Study Analysis, Documentation and Articles: Mihai Rusu (Sociologist), Doinița Elena Nanu (Psychologist)

Translator: Alexandru Botea

Copywriter/Content Creator: Mihai Pilcă

The project is co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration and supported by AMIQ Consulting.

This cultural initiative is organized by the VAR association from March to October 2024.

The project does not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. NFCA is not responsible for the content or for the means in which the results of the project are used. These are responsibilities that fully belong to the funds’ beneficiary.

Partners: 3G HUB, IQads, Radio România Cultural, București FM, Revista Cultura, Zile și Nopți, Munteanu Recomandă.

Vero Nica: manager proiect – documentarist – responsabil comunicare / PR
Magda Cernea: psiholog – audiolog – dramaterapeut – coordonator ateliere
Daniela Elena Ilinca: educator – coordonator ateliere
Andra Hera: regizor – coordonator ateliere
Andu Dumitrescu: creator conținut vizual

Mihai Pilcă: consultant promovare
Mădălina Vlad: responsabil financiar, expert contabil