Unheard-of and Undistorted Testimonies

Liviu Tulbure’s photography exhibition focuses on the post-revolutionary atmosphere in Timisoara, the unrest that characterized the years 1990 and 1991.

What is the reason behind your choice to make the exhibition part of DocumFest?

Throughout 2000 and 2001 I insisted on exhibiting these photographs, but although many people saw them and appreciated their value, nobody offered to help me organize an exhibition. However, I did not lose hope and one day, while meeting with Lucian Ionica at Cineclub, he offered to help me set up this much desired exhibition.

What is the main theme of these pictures?

The photographs are focused on the crowd of rioters who held their placards in front of the Opera House and in the Union Square, thus clearly illustrating what the people from Timişoara were demanding. Some photos show several important personalities who took the stand then during the demonstrations. These photos should be listed in history books!

What inspired you to take such pictures?

Before 1989 I used to work as a photographer at the Banat Museum. Here I took various types of pictures, without realizing I was actually contributing to Ceauşescu’s propaganda! In January 1990, when there were demonstrations contesting Iliescu’s National Salvation Front, I remembered the famous fake photo of Ceauşescu and his wife in the middle of a crowd. That was when it occurred to me that I should take real and undistorted pictures of what was going on in Opera and Union squares starting from 1990, up until the last demonstration.

Were you always so passionate about photography?

My childhood dream was to become a film operator. But during communism, in order for this to happen you had to have a film director as a parent. Since neither of my parents had such a profession, I had to give up my dream. But not entirely, because I took refuge in photography. When I was 13 I got a Krokus enlarger. Later I enrolled in a series of photography classes and, starting 1977, I worked for two years at the Popular Arts School, department of Photography and Film. Starting with 1985 I got hired as a photographer at the Banat Museum, where I came to know a great number of famous photographers from whom I have learned a lot.

You mentioned before that “these photos should be listed in history books.” What exactly did you mean? Are you planning to write a history book and publish these pictures in it?

I haven’t thought of writing a history book, at least not anytime soon, because I am now working on a documentary film about the Revolution in 1989 and everything that followed it. I already began working on this project.

After almost 40 years of photography, which is your greatest accomplishment?

The greatest accomplishment is that the 20 year-olds can see the real, undistorted images of the events that took place in 1990 – 1991 in Timisoara, and this happens because of my passion for photography.

CRISTINA IOVANOVICI