Mihai Iepure-Górski & Mădălina Dan

Act Normal! / Home Resolutions

November 15, 2022

December 16, 2022

"Act Normal!" is an online performance that challenges and subverts the actions, attitudes, and behaviors that define the framework of "normality" or "norms" within a given environment. How we act often dictates how we are perceived, accepted, or rejected in a specific context. Activities carried out within these environments are deemed valid only if they align with a purpose considered appropriate for that space. When an action or behavior deviates from this pre-established framework, it is often labeled non-compliant and dismissed or excluded. Intriguingly, the same activity or gesture can yield completely different reactions depending on the setting and the norms governing it.

"Act Normal!" seeks to probe and test these boundaries by transferring everyday activities and gestures, typically grounded in the ordinary, into the symbolically charged realm of artistic expression. In this space, actions take on an extraordinary, transformative resonance. This project invites the audience to engage with its subtle provocations, questioning the definitions of "normal" and the possibilities for its artistic reimagining

This performance operates on the border between environments and territories, exploring the concept of "normal" and attempting to transmute it into artistic substance. It unfolds across two live-streamed sessions broadcast on social media from the home of artist Mădălina Dan.

Through a process of duplication, Mădălina Dan embodies a mirrored version of her own presence, executing replicas of her activities and gestures. The platform amplifies this duplication, blurring the line between authenticity and artifice. Meanwhile, Mihai Iepure-Górski serves as the unseen orchestrator—a director of a deliberately artificial live stream. By following precise instructions, he reframes the mundane as an improvised yet meticulously planned sequence of actions. His role raises a provocative question: How can one challenge another to act like themselves?

Mădălina Dan is an accomplished artist, performer, and educator, Mădălina Dan graduated from the Choreography High School in Bucharest and was a member of the Oleg Danovski Ballet Company (1998–2003). A recipient of the prestigious danceWEB scholarship in Vienna (2008), she has held residencies, including as a guest artist at the Herberger Institute, School of Dance (Arizona State University, 2009), and as an associate artist at the National Dance Centre in Bucharest (2016). Her studies at Berlin’s HZT (SoDA program) further refined her craft. Mădălina’s works have been presented at renowned venues such as Bozar (Brussels), Springdance Festival (Utrecht), SouthBank Center and Chisenhale Dance Space (London), Fabrik Potsdam, Hebbel am Uffer (Berlin), TanzFabrik (Berlin), Tanzquartier (Vienna), and Dance Theater Workshop (New York).

Mihai Iepure-Górski is born in Alba-Iulia, Mihai Iepure-Górski is a multidisciplinary artist based in Cluj. A graduate of the Arts Academy, Mihai explores various mediums, creating gestures with aesthetic and critical potential. Over the past decade, he has achieved recognition both locally and internationally. Since 2019, Mihai has expanded his practice to include project writing and curatorial work as part of the Paintbrush Factory collective in Cluj, a role he held until its closure in 2022.

Graphic Design: Sebastian Danciu

Partners: National Cultural Fund Administration, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in the Arts (ICMA), Revista ARTA, Propagarta