Omagiu
'Omagiu' is the name of the first urban-style and contemporary art magazine in Romania
Bucharest, Romania
Lascar Catargiu 14 / parter, 010671
Email: contact@omagiu.com
- Category: Art, Culture
- Periodicity: Quarterly
- Language: Romanian / English
- Format: 240 x 278 mm
- Price: 28 Lei
- Web: http://www.omagiu.com
Founded in 2005
'Omagiu' (Homage, pronounced Oh-Mah-Jee-Oo) is the name of the first urban-style and contemporary art magazine in Romania; it is bilingual, published in Romanian and English.
208 pages of design, art, fashion, music & urban culture on 139776 square centimetres. 195 photos, 25 illustrations, 10 personalised adverts; quarterly magazine.
'Omagiu' aims to be a platform dedicated to the creative industries, gathering together the most influential contemporary artists, architects, designers and musicians from the new generations. The magazine is a fusion of several types of publications, promising to be a trustworthy guide in the aesthetic jungle of the nowadays consumerist society, but also a collectable item, which will debate and analyse the vast contents of the urban culture in Romania and abroad. ‘Omagiu’ offers links to sites on the www which illustrate the changes produced in the conceptualising of the contemporary artistic act. ‘Omagiu’ will always be one step ahead of the trends, by observing and promoting innovative cultural areas.
The first issue ‘Fals / Fake’ (August/September/October 2005) contains:
A photo reportage by Stefan Cosma in Bucharest on fake urbanism, with a text by Irina Melita; Photographical remakes of famous paintings, shot in Vienna by Andrei Waldegg; ‘Living units’ – fragment of a project by artists Mona Vatmanu and Florin Tudor; ‘Household use’ – a project for ‘Omagiu’ by artist Cristi Pogacean; Musicians Vlaicu Golcea and Cristian Stefanescu in a dialogue on music formats; ‘Interior Terror’ – a fusion of design and lingerie. There is also an article by Alexandra Enache on Japanese glam rock, and an interview with the fashion designer Irina Marinescu, the ‘Fake vs. Original’ section which presents fake industrial design. Vlad Nanca interviews the artist, Spesh, and his portfolio + ‘Red dots’. Stefan Tiron writes on “Fake animal robotics”, and towards the end, Stefan Cosma comes back with ‘Celulart – IntroOutrospective’, realTVty remix, a series of photos taken with a mobile phone.
Exclusive Interview
Omagiu
What is your magazine about?
We are a Remix Culture Magazine, dedicated to contemporary art & urban culture.
It came as a growing need to have an official platform and to expose the many artistic endeavours happening locally at the time, to finally have a different magazine that can help young Romanian creatives make their voices heard.
Who’s behind the project? Tell us about the founders, their backgrounds and their motivations!
Omagiu was a joint venture of three people: Ioana Isopescu, Stefan Cosma and Milos Jovanovic, the last two being no longer part of the magazine. The team has changed 3 times so far and each of us has a different story to tell... Ioana worked extensivley in the advertising industry before moving to publishing and managing her own printing house; The team at this moment is comprised of 5 permanent people: Ioana Isopescu (editor-in-chief), Stefan Tiron (Arts Research Manager), Maria Guta (Project Manager), Mihaela Popa (Art Director), Tom Wilson (English Editor).
How do you produce one issue? How much time do you spend on it? How big is your team?
We have 4 issues a year, 5 people and 3 permanent collaborators.
What have been the important steps in the life of your magazine?
The changing of the teams which brings a different approach every time.
The magazine has been invited to Colophon2007/The International Magazine Symposium in Luxemburg and selected among the ten good-looking emerging magazines.
Which are the key ingredients for the success of your magazine?
The unique ability of the magazine to blend contrasting realities and borderline culture forms. We follow, mostly, deviations from the norm.
What are the difficulties you are confronted with? What would be “the” thing to help the magazine to improve?
With the continous flow of people within the magazine, it's a constant effort to reach the same frequency or at least to work our differences in such a way that is productive to the magazine and not disruptive. Either way, it's refreshing to have new blood.
Where do you want the magazine to be in five years?
Alive and kicking.
Tell us about your audience! Who are the readers of your magazine?
Creatives worldwide and alternative magazine consumers.
Is remaining independent important to you? Is it part of the strategy?
Independence gives you the freedom to pursue your own wishes.
What’s your relationship with advertisement? Does it influence your content? Do you care about advertising-driven-editorials?
Adverts do run through our magazine but the content is almost never influenced by it.
What do you think of your issue 01, when you look back at it?
There are hardly any copies left. Those who have a copy, can consider themselves the owners of a precious posession.
Magazine favorite(s) that inspired you in your career.
Volume, Wad, Archis, Pin-up, Re-magazine, Casino A4 and many more...
Do you keep old copies of magazines? If so, what is your favorite in your collection?
Of course. Each of us has their own favourite. Mine is the Nano issue for its unity and graphic flow.
How many magazines do you buy / get / read each month? Do you qualify yourself a maniac?
Not necessarily magazines but visual material.
We are compiling answers from some of the most innovative magazine makers around the world today. Who else should we ask?
Jop van Bennekom.
Answered by Mihaela Popa (Art Director)
Magazine: Omagiu Magazine
Email: mihamiha80@yahoo.com
Date: 15-10-2008
Staff
Editor in chief: Ioana Isopescu...
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