Luscha
Accompanying artist
Biography
Luscha, (she/her) dog of the visual artist Alex Bodea, (2007-2021, Bucharest-Berlin). She was given in 2007 to the artist partner, Lumi Rațiu, one-month old, after being saved from a alleged abusive relationship with a temporary foster care owner, given by the currently recognised animal rescuer from Bucharest, Alina Dumitriu. She spent 1 year in Bucharest, then the two met Alex Bodea and went for the next 3 years in Cluj-Napoca and spent the remaining time of her life based in Berlin, with recurrent nomadic life across Europe, travelling in a travel van bought specially for her. She was diagnosed with renal failure while travelling through Italy. Her diagnose was missed by all previous doctors, including regular check-ups in Germany, Spain and France. In the autumn of 2021, close to her death, she travelled home where she spent the last month in palliative homecare. Digital gravestone at Rosengarten cemetery[1].
Type:
Characteristics and Personality traits:
- Medium size, with visible Dalmatian attributes, possibly Labrador as well, somewhat smaller and more delicate than a pure Dalmatian. Black with white spots. On his chest he had a swirl of hair that was always tousled and on his head he had a spot that resembled a human profile or the shape of a chess pawn. He had one white eyebrow and one black and was very soft to the touch.
- She was warmhearted, loving sentient being, who showed big trust in humans, very at ease with children and teenagers. Didn't barked much, she was joyful, playful but wise. Never asked for special care, but appreciative of the comfort, wherever and whenever found.
- Her only fear was that of the abandonment, which may be traced to her early first months of life, when she changed several foster homes.
Significant facts:
- She was a dog who travelled extensively, from the remote beaches of Portugal to the northern fjords of Norway, from the windy shores of Ireland to the clear skypes of Italy, besides her home native country and neighbourhood area. She has travelled on boats, ferries, trains, cars, free or carried on the back, placed in the special backpack for dogs.
- She has seen and smelled border collies herding the ships in Ireland, donkeys and ships in the French Alps, flamingos in the south of France, and a great array of animals at the Zoologischer Tiergarten in Berlin, known for letting accompanying beings to visit the place.
- She was allowed to visit Bozar Brussel / Centre for Fine Arts.
- She was kissed on the forehead by gondoliers in Venice, due to her beauty.
- She stole an entire omelette of 4 eggs filled with one full jar of black truffles.
- From all the countries she visited, she enjoyed Ireland the most, particularly an old medieval cemetery on ruins, by the sea, and the big green, humid grass of the country land.
In the eyes of others:
- Preziosa
- Graziosa
- Plus belle
- Beautiful
- Nicht so nett (when she showed her teeth)
- Poverina
- Vecchiola
Gallery:
Luscha, on the road, beaches, (accompanying artist Alex Bodea), Cascais beach, Portugal, 2019 (c) Lumi Rațiu 2019
Luscha, on the road, mountains, (accompanying artist Alex Bodea), Innsbruck, Austria, 2017 (c) Lumi Rațiu 2017
Luscha, in Berlin, her adoptive city, (accompanying artist Alex Bodea), Berlin, Germany, 2014 (c) Lumi Rațiu 2014
Luscha, stealing food. (accompanying artist Alex Bodea), Finișel, Romania, 2009 (c) Lumi Rațiu 2009
Luscha, on the road, Faro, margins of Europe, (accompanying artist Alex Bodea), Faro, Portugal, 2019 (c) Lumi Rațiu 2019
Luscha, last month of life. (accompanying artist Alex Bodea), Berlin, Germany, 2021 (c) Lumi Rațiu 2021
