On December 21st, 1989, this was made on display. Nicolae Ceausescu was a dictator and head of the Romanian communist party as well as the president of Romania from 1974 to1989. Romania was already under communist control before Ceausescu's position in power, being one most underdeveloped states in post war Europe. Ceausescu's reign saw a brief period of stability and development for Romania before devolving into an Orwellian like authoritarian regime.
Mass surveillance by a secret police force and censorship of all media spread fear throughout the population. Ceausescu created a cult of personality, which consisted of stadium and television productions meant to glorify him and ensure his presence in the minds of the population. This was done through control of television broadcasting, in which the television company would only broadcast for two hours a day, consisting of propaganda for Ceausescu and the Communist regime. Ceausescu also began exporting the country's basic goods to pay off a national debt of ten billion. This resulted in widespread famine and malnutrition that went on for decades, this combined with a repressive government and a violent police force made Romania's standard of living the worst in all of Eastern Europe. The culture and original symbols of Romanian history were being slowly picked away at by the regime, oppression and ideological dominance held a tight muzzle on the citizens.
Following a devastating violent uprising in the city of Timisoara, Ceausescu held an address in Palace Square in Bucharest, Romania's capital. Workers were forced to attend under threat of being fired, and bystanders were corralled into the main square where they were given banners, red flags, and giant portraits of Nicolae and his wife Elena. Secret police were a part of the crowd making sure there would be no uprising like the one before. The audience was given instructions on when to applaud and what to cheer for the purpose of glorifying Ceausescu and under fear of disobeying the regime.
A nervous, uncharacteristic Ceausescu appeared on the balcony to give his address, while a sea of people representing the working class of Romania stood below. The speech was broadcasted on television, something customary for Nicolae's regime. As the vague, carefully scripted address went on, a commotion breaks out in the crowd. According to varying accounts, there was movement in parts of the crowd from fireworks or gunfire, along with a sea of booing and hissing. This sound was unlike anything else, as the entire crowd seemed to erupt with commotion. The look on Ceausescu's face was that of pure horror, with the overwhelming realization that he was no longer feared. For a moment he raises his right hand, gesturing the crowd to calm down while a security guard suggests he go inside. When the chaos doesn't stop, Ceausescu lowers his hand, and in one gesture defined the end of Communism, and began the Romanian Revolution. The cameras suddenly turned toward the surrounding Government buildings, as the cameramen were instructed to show nothing but things that supported the regime. The event was broadcast nationwide, and at once the entire country knew they would be liberated. Ceausescu's speech continues on for about eight minutes, promising things like raised salaries and increases in scholarships, but to no avail. Ceausescu was ushered inside the building, and he in his wife fled the country in helicopter the next morning before being captured four days later. A trial was hastily arranged, and Nicolae and his wife would be executed by firing squad. The now rebel operated TV stations brodcasted everything, even detailing the bodies of the two after they had been shot. An account form a reporter in Romania at the time describes the aftermath.
"Graffiti throughout the capital of Bucharest, shaken by gunfire for eight straight days, advises the public to avoid confusion and disorder by listening to Radio Free Romania. Because of the television station's importance, the army had made it a fortress and secured the surrounding residential area to prevent attacks by the members of the secret police who have gone underground. Some of the heaviest fighting during the last week took place at the television station compound. Houses across the street are covered with bullet holes and the house of the British ambassador is burned out." Turmoil in Romania would continue as a new government was being set in place.
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I became fascinated with this moment in history. In an instant the entire country was turned upside down with a single gesture. A society erupted, and a revolution began, all in one moment. This gesture impacted Romanians for generations and into the current day. I wanted to highlight the literal physical gesture that so many remember as the end of era, and a new life outside of the iron curtain. The events of the revolution are symbolic in their relevance to the cultures symbolism movements, thus ingraining it into contemporary Romanian art and society.
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZz6wJYXcKY
Ceausescu last speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWIbCtz_Xwk
Source
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/12/28/Television-was-key-in-Romanian-revolution/9448630824400/
Mass surveillance by a secret police force and censorship of all media spread fear throughout the population. Ceausescu created a cult of personality, which consisted of stadium and television productions meant to glorify him and ensure his presence in the minds of the population. This was done through control of television broadcasting, in which the television company would only broadcast for two hours a day, consisting of propaganda for Ceausescu and the Communist regime. Ceausescu also began exporting the country's basic goods to pay off a national debt of ten billion. This resulted in widespread famine and malnutrition that went on for decades, this combined with a repressive government and a violent police force made Romania's standard of living the worst in all of Eastern Europe. The culture and original symbols of Romanian history were being slowly picked away at by the regime, oppression and ideological dominance held a tight muzzle on the citizens.
Following a devastating violent uprising in the city of Timisoara, Ceausescu held an address in Palace Square in Bucharest, Romania's capital. Workers were forced to attend under threat of being fired, and bystanders were corralled into the main square where they were given banners, red flags, and giant portraits of Nicolae and his wife Elena. Secret police were a part of the crowd making sure there would be no uprising like the one before. The audience was given instructions on when to applaud and what to cheer for the purpose of glorifying Ceausescu and under fear of disobeying the regime.
A nervous, uncharacteristic Ceausescu appeared on the balcony to give his address, while a sea of people representing the working class of Romania stood below. The speech was broadcasted on television, something customary for Nicolae's regime. As the vague, carefully scripted address went on, a commotion breaks out in the crowd. According to varying accounts, there was movement in parts of the crowd from fireworks or gunfire, along with a sea of booing and hissing. This sound was unlike anything else, as the entire crowd seemed to erupt with commotion. The look on Ceausescu's face was that of pure horror, with the overwhelming realization that he was no longer feared. For a moment he raises his right hand, gesturing the crowd to calm down while a security guard suggests he go inside. When the chaos doesn't stop, Ceausescu lowers his hand, and in one gesture defined the end of Communism, and began the Romanian Revolution. The cameras suddenly turned toward the surrounding Government buildings, as the cameramen were instructed to show nothing but things that supported the regime. The event was broadcast nationwide, and at once the entire country knew they would be liberated. Ceausescu's speech continues on for about eight minutes, promising things like raised salaries and increases in scholarships, but to no avail. Ceausescu was ushered inside the building, and he in his wife fled the country in helicopter the next morning before being captured four days later. A trial was hastily arranged, and Nicolae and his wife would be executed by firing squad. The now rebel operated TV stations brodcasted everything, even detailing the bodies of the two after they had been shot. An account form a reporter in Romania at the time describes the aftermath.
"Graffiti throughout the capital of Bucharest, shaken by gunfire for eight straight days, advises the public to avoid confusion and disorder by listening to Radio Free Romania. Because of the television station's importance, the army had made it a fortress and secured the surrounding residential area to prevent attacks by the members of the secret police who have gone underground. Some of the heaviest fighting during the last week took place at the television station compound. Houses across the street are covered with bullet holes and the house of the British ambassador is burned out." Turmoil in Romania would continue as a new government was being set in place.
--
I became fascinated with this moment in history. In an instant the entire country was turned upside down with a single gesture. A society erupted, and a revolution began, all in one moment. This gesture impacted Romanians for generations and into the current day. I wanted to highlight the literal physical gesture that so many remember as the end of era, and a new life outside of the iron curtain. The events of the revolution are symbolic in their relevance to the cultures symbolism movements, thus ingraining it into contemporary Romanian art and society.
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZz6wJYXcKY
Ceausescu last speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWIbCtz_Xwk
Source
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/12/28/Television-was-key-in-Romanian-revolution/9448630824400/
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