Chisinau art exhibition challenges Down syndrome bias
Portraits of six individuals with Down syndrome are being exhibited across major institutions in Chisinau throughout October, marking World Down Syndrome Awareness Month through an initiative titled “The Art of Being.”
Organized by the non-governmental organization “Prietena Mea,” the campaign aims to dismantle persistent societal stereotypes, encouraging the public to see the individual rather than the diagnosis.
Challenging stereotypes through portraiture
The project presents six diverse individuals across varied age groups and backgrounds: eight-year-old Beatrice, teenagers Andrei, Victor, and Nicoleta, young adult Daria, and mature adult Ghenadie. The artworks were developed through detailed conversations with the participants and their families, capturing personal hobbies and daily routines.
“Along with raising awareness about Down syndrome over the past five years, we shifted our focus toward reshaping public perceptions of disability,” said Diana Adamciuc, a representative of the organization, on Moldova 1’s “Bună Dimineața” program. “There is a myth that everyone with Down syndrome is identical due to shared facial traits. Through this campaign, we want to convey that differences are a natural part of life and make each person unique, much like works of art.”
Moldovan artist Cristina Frei, who is based abroad, illustrated the symbolic portraits to highlight each subject's unique identity.
Strategic placement at medical and academic hubs
The exhibition is open to the public in the courtyard of the National Museum of History of Moldova, as well as on campuses and premises including Moldova State University, the “Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the “Ion Creangă” State Pedagogical University, and the “Timofei Moșneaga” Republican Clinical Hospital.
“We chose these locations because they host future specialists and medical professionals who directly interact with individuals with Down syndrome,” Adamciuc noted. “We felt these were the most opportune venues to engage large audiences and foster empathy.”
Down syndrome is a permanent genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, resulting in 47 chromosomes instead of 46. Approximately 50 children are born with Down syndrome annually in the Republic of Moldova, while the World Health Organization estimates the global incidence at roughly one in 1,000 live births.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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