Cluj with Catrinel Sabaciag: A Creative Journey Across 6 Spaces
Romania carries a spirit of natural creativity and resourcefulness, qualities that crystallize in Cluj’s design scene. While the city has yet to achieve international recognition as a design destination, it offers something more vital: authentic communities transforming industrial buildings into centers of artistic experimentation. For Catrinel Sabaciag, whose light installations probe perception and cosmic phenomena, Cluj is both home and workshop, where mystical forests lie steps away from contemporary galleries. Her practice spans product design, installation, and sculpture. Rooted in science and philosophy, she works with both advanced manufacturing and traditional casting. Through interactive objects, she makes invisible forces tangible, manipulating light, time, and material to alter perception. In Cluj, her investigations into cosmic mystery find fertile ground.
Her award-winning pieces, including installations featured in galleries from Cluj to Dubai, are currently available with free shipping worldwide through October 3rd.
1. Mystical Inspiration: Hoia-Baciu Forest
At Cluj’s edge lies Hoia-Baciu, a forest as famous for UFO lore as for its natural beauty. For Catrinel, it offers “a perfect sanctuary to reconnect with nature and step away from the studio.” She notes a “charming clearing, a bright, circular space that adds to its enchantment.” The forest feeds directly into her work. “I often find myself capturing its essence through photography or sampling materials and textures, translating the play of light and shadow into my work.” Hoia-Baciu’s paranormal reputation aligns with her fascination with invisible forces.
2. Community Creativity: Atelier Cafe
Cluj’s creative scene thrives in communal spaces. Atelier Cafe epitomizes this ethos with furniture “ingeniously crafted from cardboard, giving it a creative and eco-friendly vibe.” More than a café, it serves as cultural hub, “hosting emerging talents and sometimes charitable events.” The program is as varied as the crowd: “The evenings are alive with a mix of electronic music, rock concerts, and even stand-up comedy.” Accessibility matters too – “the prices are just right, making it a welcoming spot for everyone.” The DIY aesthetic reflects the same inventive spirit that shapes Catrinel’s material experiments, underscoring how local communities build culture from necessity rather than top-down programming.
3. Layered History: Casa Tranzit
Casa Tranzit embodies layered time. Once a synagogue, later neglected, now revived, “its walls carry all those layers.” Catrinel recalls “an incredible light show” that made full use of its architecture. The venue doesn’t avoid difficult themes, hosting performances on “the horrors of the communist era and the prison system.” It also welcomes gatherings like “Friendsgiving with a long, beautifully decorated table.” For an artist working with concepts of perception and time, such spaces offer rich context while connecting contemporary practice with historical memory.
4. Contemporary Platform: Polyvalent Hall
Cluj’s ambitions find large-scale expression at Polyvalent Hall. During Deco Days, it hosted Catrinel’s Event Horizon Light, presented by the Pavilion of Global Design. Inspired by the black hole boundary, the work “pays homage to the great Unknown.” She collaborated with Odaia Studio, who staged a retro DJ apartment, while the installation added “cosmic elegance” to the lounge. Beyond design fairs, the hall hosts techno concerts and large events. Its modular design allows “spectacular light shows and immersive experiences,” the ideal setting for Catrinel’s optical experiments.
5. Experimental Theater: Statia Theater
Near the train station, Statia Theater runs as “an independent, small theater” with a fresh, human-centered approach. Catrinel admits, “It’s where I discovered my appreciation for musicals, which I previously wasn’t fond of. They present them in such a captivating way.” Shows reimagine Romanian songs and vintage pieces for today’s stage, echoing how Cluj artists recast history in new forms. The theater also hosts exhibitions and concerts, while costumes and props heighten the experience, showing how design informs performance at every level.
Cluj on the Creative Stage
Catrinel’s most notable exhibitions unfolded at Cluj’s Franciscan monastery during Scientifica, which bridges art and science. Her Noosphere – winner of The Big See Award 2025 – creates a holographic sphere visible only in perception. She sees her work as shaping Cluj’s emerging identity. “Cluj doesn’t yet have a large pool of product designers, and the collectible design scene is still growing. We are pioneers in this space.” The city’s eclectic architecture – communist blocks, Secessionist gems, modern constructions – mirrors its cultural complexity. Within it, her practice, which makes the invisible visible, resonates deeply.
