Project organized by Arhitext Design Foundation in partnership with
Project co-funded by the National Cultural Fund Administration
The International Creative Retreat is dedicated to unlocking / re-discovering the meaning and role of written text, of the imaginary created by the latter, through dialogue between art, political and social sciences, in and through their theoretical and critical approaches.
The title is a paraphrasing of the biblical allegory of the “return of the prodigal son” and is used not only as a basis for communication, its meaning being obvious for the wider audience, but also as a challenge, a stimulus for reflection and creative thinking, by swithcing the focus from the prodigal son to the steadfast one (some would call him conservative, cantankerous, a critic, or worse, antiquated and reactionary). This switch is motivated by the fact that the fable, even in recent literary, moral (in short, lay) reinterpretations, uses the prodigal sibling as its central character. We are convinced as well as excited by the idea that turning the spotlight on the other brother will open new perspectives on existing issues, by formulating more dramatic questions regarding a specific camouflaged (intentionally or not) reality. Likewise, we will be able to formulate answers that are not easily available or that are usually uncomfortable or difficult to accept.
Since we are concerned with promoting the written culture, specifically that which is connected to architecture, visual and show arts, we have a few suggestions about the way the fable can be re-read:
Architecture and Urbanism Studies at the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest / diplomat (master) in 1978. Co-founder (Bucharest, March 1990). and senior editor (since 2006) of the magazine Arhitext.
Arpad Zachi – host and coordinator
Ilinca Pop – mediator