Aliona Ciobanu

Monuments were important tools for political and ideological indoctrination in the Soviet Moldova. They were used to celebrate, commemorate, and homogenise conquered countries, while also perpetuating ideological propagandistic narratives that were altered to achieve political goals.

The systematic remodeling and reconstruction of the story directly impact people's perceptions and memories of the place. Is there a space for personal stories in the constructed political narratives? Five Soviet monuments continue to exist in public locations throughout the Republic of Moldova remaining protected by the government.

What to memorise? What to forget? This project aims to present an alternative to the collective sites of remembrance that were part of ideological dogma, and focuses on personal memory. The aluminum pottery, the mass-used everyday object in public and private contexts in Moldova, melts stories of the material into the monument.

The stories are shaped by the fluidity of metal: they intertwine and form ongoing narratives.