Canvases, Murmur and Whispers

The Cluj-Napoca Art Museum, a cultural institution operating under the authority of the Cluj County Council, in partnership with the Arta Acului la Cluj Association, presents the exhibition Canvases, Murmur and Whispers, dedicated to the traditional Transylvanian shirt.

The exhibition will be open from 20 to 31 May 2026 in the temporary exhibition halls of the Bánffy Palace. The opening will take place on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

The exhibition offers an insight into the universe of the traditional Transylvanian shirt, highlighting the richness of decorative techniques, the refinement of textile compositions and the cultural value of Romanian textile heritage. More than 40 shirts from various ethnographic areas of Transylvania will be presented, alongside a symbolic installation inspired by the Tree of Life, seen as an emblem of the revival of traditional craftsmanship.

The exhibition is part of the project The Shirt of Transylvania, initiated by the Arta Acului la Cluj Association, whose activity focuses on research, documentation and the authentic reconstruction of traditional costume pieces. The association brings together people passionate about textile heritage and actively contributes to preserving and promoting Romanian cultural traditions through exhibitions, workshops, educational projects and collaborations with museums and cultural institutions.

A special contribution to the exhibition is made by students of the “Romulus Ladea” Visual Arts High School in Cluj-Napoca, coordinated by teachers Diana Ianaciuc and Cristian Porumb, who present graphic interpretations of traditional Romanian costume.

Partners: The Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, the Năsăud Border Guards Museum, the County Museum of History and Art in Zalău, the Mureș County Museum, and the “Romulus Ladea” Visual Arts High School in Cluj-Napoca.

The exhibition can be visited from 21 to 31 May 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.