2024
Sculpture

As his contribution to the exhibition Unreal Estate (2024), Christian Jankowski creates a cutout of a fictional territory where Romania and Australia merge into one country. When Jankowski first visited the exhibition space — a construction site to renovate a 19th-century apartment in Bucharest — a dusty tablecloth imprinted with a map of Australia covering a kitchen table drew his attention. During the communist regime, most Romanians were unable to travel, especially to such distant parts of the world. How did this souvenir find its way here? What dreams and fantasies did it evoke in its previous owner?

By merging the geographical outlines of Romania and Australia, Jankowski creates both a unique connection and contrast between the country and the continent. The object invites to envision a new space where inhabitants, cultures, politics, values, wildlife and climates are yet to be defined. This draws viewers to imagine the possibilities within this hybrid space, highlighting the concept of being “in-between”.

The artwork also encourages social encounters as a functioning kitchen table. The first served meal was a round of pizzas delivered to the opening.