Adina Pintilie's film installation for Romania at Venice Biennale addresses intimacy and representation

Adina Pintilie represents Romania at the 59th Venice Biennale with a multichannel film installation titled 'You Are Another Me – A Cathedral of the Body', curated by Cosmin Costinaș and Viktor Neumann. The work, displayed in a reimagined architectural setting within the Giardini pavilion, explores themes of intimacy, bodily diversity, and solidarity beyond borders, continuing Pintilie's research initiated with her 2018 Golden Bear-winning film 'Touch Me Not'. The Biennale runs from 23 April to 27 November 2022. In a questionnaire by ArtReview, the team critiqued national art frameworks, noting that Pintilie's solo project is only the second by a female artist in the Romanian Pavilion's history, following Geta Brătescu in 2017. They highlighted the underrepresentation of non-male artists globally and expressed concerns about right-wing resurgence in Eastern Europe and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, warning of growing alienation. The project engages with Romanian artists' responses to national representation over the past two decades, addressing collective shame and societal issues around sexuality. Pintilie, Costinaș, and Neumann emphasized the Biennale's role in facilitating international exchange despite its limitations, and they look forward to reconnecting with colleagues post-pandemic.