EMOTIONAL OPENING IN SLATINA (UA)
In an authentic winter outdoor setting (as it snowed all day), the School of Arts in Slatina (UA) hosted, in the presence of the author, officials, and a large audience, the opening of the exhibition of the renowned photographic artist Kosei Miya from Tokyo (Japan), entitled “Maramureș, the Center of the World.” The exhibition was first opened at the “Euro Foto Art” Gallery, FIAP Exhibition Center Oradea – Romania in 2023 and at the Maramureș Museum in Sighetu Marmației last year. On the walls of the festive hall of the School of Arts, 70 black-and-white photographs taken a few decades ago by the renowned Japanese photographer Kosei Miya were displayed, most on analog film, black-and-white and color, during his travels through the splendid picturesque landscapes of Maramureș. The original images were processed and post-processed and all converted to black-and-white by the photographic artist from Oradea, Ștefan Tóth István AFIAP, ESFIAP. All exhibited photographs can also be admired on the AIEFA website:
https://eurofotoart.ro/expo-foto-kosei-miya-tokio-jp-maramuresul-centrul-lumii-muzeul-maramuresan-sighetu-marmatiei/ The welcome message on behalf of the hosts was addressed by Mrs. Maria Vlad, president of the Solotvino microregion department, who emphasized the importance of organizing this exhibition. The Deputy Mayor of the Solotvino Territorial Community, Iurii Dan, stated that it is an honor for him as well as for the residents of Slatina (UA) to participate in this exceptional opening. Next, His Excellency Grațian-Florin Pârvu, the Consul of Romania in Solotvino, was invited to speak, appreciating the artistic and spiritual value of the personal exhibition of the photographic artist Kosei Miya, who made an effort to come all the way from Tokyo to attend the opening, as well as the organizers for their efforts in completing this exhibition. During the opening, Dr. Eng. Dorin Popa, representative of the manager of Summit Agro Romania, Dr. Eng. Patricia Știrbu, also took the floor. After presenting the Romanian-Japanese company, he mentioned that in addition to the multiple professional concerns of the management, great importance is placed on supporting and promoting Romanian and international cultural values. The Manager of the Maramureș Museum in Sighetu Marmației, Dr. Mirela Bârz, noted that this splendid exhibition was most recently opened with great success on July 12, 2024, at the Museum’s headquarters, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Tatuso Kitagawa, Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Romania. Photographic artist Ștefan Tóth István AFIAP, ESFIAP, president of AIEFA and curator of the exhibition, presented the context in which he met the Japanese photographic artist in Tokyo, and how he managed to restore and highlight the original images taken on various films decades ago, which had faded over time, emphasizing that “It was a titanic effort to save and process images of exceptional artistic and documentary value. In the end, it was an immense joy both for me and the author to see the reborn exhibition.” At the end, the Oradea-based photographic artist presented and launched the printed album entitled Kosei Miya: “Maramureș, the Center of the World”, created with the support of Summit Agro Romania and published by the “Euro Foto Art” publishing house. In conclusion, the exhibiting photographic artist shared with those present the context in which he first came to Romania and historical Maramureș, and how the exhibited photographs were taken. Musical moments of the opening were performed by the artists of the School of Arts in Slatina (UA): the “Belcanto” Choir, Fabian Bura – vocals, as well as the renowned folk singer Elena Botoș, who performed religious music. The exhibition, organized under the patronage of the Consulate of Romania in Solotvino (Ukraine) and the City Hall of Solotvino (Ukraine), under the auspices of the International Federation of Photographic Art (recognized by UNESCO), by the International Association “Euro Foto Art” (AIEFA), in partnership with Summit Agro Romania and the Cultural Department of the Solotvino Microregion (Ukraine), will remain open to the visiting public until April 30, 2025. In the morning, the AIEFA president, photographic artist Ștefan Tóth István AFIAP, ESFIAP, was received in audience at the headquarters of the Romanian Consulate in Solotvino (UA) by His Excellency Grațian-Florin Pârvu, the Consul of Romania in Solotvino, with whom he discussed the collaboration on the project entitled “Traditions and Modernity in Agriculture in Historical Maramureș”, consisting of the creation of photographs in the Slatina (UA) region.
Exhibited photos
