DUAE LINGUA: THE TWO LANGUAGES OF IDENTITY AND DIFFERENCE

The Brâncuși Gallery at the Romanian Cultural Institute is pleased to present “Duae Lingua”, a group exhibition exploring the complexities of migration and dual identity through the experiences of Eastern European women navigating the tensions between tradition and assimilation. Featuring works by Adina Andrus (Romania), Katya Grokhovsky (Ukraine), Elena Kalkova (Russia), Lilian Shtereva (Bulgaria), and Alex Wolkowicz (Germany/Poland), the exhibition invites reflection on the ever-evolving process of self-translation.

Curated by Romanian-born Daniela Holban, "Duae Lingua" takes its name from the feminine translation of the Latin phrase “Two Languages” (Duae Linguae). The exhibition deliberately alters the phrase, playfully referencing the popular language-learning app, DuoLingo, while underscoring how meaning can shift—or get lost—in translation. While the app promises rapid fluency through gamification, the exhibition challenges this notion, highlighting the profound and often lifelong process of cultural assimilation. More than mastering vocabulary and syntax, true fluency requires navigating new customs, idioms, and social…