Arts Lab 6.0: Ziad Ameen - Month 3

At this moment, as I’m writing my third report, I have been here in Romania for exactly three months. For documentation, today was really an interesting day. We had the MAF exhibition at Negru Zi Café. It was a different experience; even though not many people came, we enjoyed it. And finally, after waiting so long, we all got our residence permits! I was worried I wouldn’t get mine before my trip to Greece for the Christmas vacation.  

I think I can call this month “The Month of Conflicts”—it was full of events and conflicts, not only at the house but also within myself!  

My colleagues and I completed our residency at Petru Rareș School. On the last day, I noticed a stronger sense of teamwork as we helped Soukina and Sinem finish the wall painting at the school. This residency was particularly challenging due to the language barrier—only a few of the students spoke English. However, the final result of our artwork was really creative, and I built meaningful connections with the students despite the challenges.  

We then traveled to Ruginoasa to draw inspiration from local folklore for our artwork. The journey was breathtaking, with snowy landscapes stretching along both sides of the road. Our first stop was the Ruginoasa Cultural Center, where we explored traditional clothing, furniture, agricultural tools, and photographs of daily life from the past. We also learned about characters from Romanian legends, which are still celebrated during New Year’s festivities and other folkloric events. After visiting the cultural center, we had a playful snowball fight before heading to the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Memorial Palace. I was captivated by the palace’s Gothic architecture and the royal interior spaces, which left a lasting impression on me.  

Let’s talk about The Egyptian Night! The Egyptian Cultural Night was an important event for me, as it gave me a chance to share my culture with my international colleagues. Alongside Yasser and Salma, we planned every detail, and I’m happy to say it was a success. The event included traditional Egyptian food, games, and a showcase of daily life in Egypt, along with a presentation of the Golden Parade, which beautifully represents Egyptian culture. Rahaf sang some Egyptian songs, adding a special touch to the evening. I felt proud of our efforts and how we represented our culture.  

The next station was our Caravan at Justiție pentru Minori Organization. We organized a caravan there, where I collaborated with Nikola to lead the clay workshop. We guided students in creating characters inspired by Romanian folklore. The event went smoothly, and many students spoke English, which made communication easier. The sculptures they created were truly unique. On the same day, I visited the Etnographic Museum of Moldova. The museum showcased elements of Moldovan agriculture and traditional clothing. After finishing my visit, I discovered a coffee competition happening on the ground floor, which was a new and exciting experience for me. Later that week, we attended the Hungarian Cultural Night, where Luca prepared delicious dishes and organized a fun game session.  

Working on my artwork for the MAF Exhibition at ACT House was enjoyable. My digital painting was inspired by traditional dance and included freehand sketches and folkloric symbols. I aimed to bring the artwork to life by creating a sense of movement through the dancing characters, accompanied by traditional music in the background. Participating in the MAF Exhibition had a strong impact on me. It allowed me to explore my colleagues’ artworks, each with its own unique story, and engage in meaningful conversations about youth, identity, and cultural roots. Additionally, our residency artwork had an interactive component where visitors were invited to draw their first childhood legend. By the end of the exhibition, we had collected many creative drawings that reflected diverse stories. This experience deepened my understanding of Romanian culture, traditions, and daily life from the past.  

The last station this month was Fundraising for the Cucuteni House. To develop the Cucuteni House into a cultural hub for the area, we divided ourselves into teams to raise funds and encourage donations. We also crafted handmade items to sell at the Christmas market. This experience taught me how to interact more effectively with the local community, stay flexible, and embrace diverse ideas.  

As the Christmas vacation approaches, everyone is preparing to travel to their chosen destinations. I look forward to new adventures and exciting challenges ahead.  

See you in the next report with new activities and events!  

Report by  Ziad Ameen, a volunteer from Egypt and one of the 14 participants in Arts Lab 6.0, a project co-funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps program.