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For a better understanding of my work just wach
this movie:
Video 1
about my work
Hypercube and Transition
Video
2 about my work
Music, Dance and Transition
All of my work is a real introspection of life. The search for the Human
essence, for the link between the human reality and the spiritual one
are the leading ideas of my art. The unknown, the energy, the movement,
and the metamorphosis are the basic elements used.
The characters are almost real; the shapes are fluid and in motion; they
are spiritual, radiating energy to the point of merging with the Universe.
Each work is a story, a rhapsody, a vision into spirituality. The suppleness
of the human symbols, the movement, the soaring toward the infinite try
to introduce the spectator into a system of perfection. However, I am
trying to only suggest the idea of departure in meditation toward perfection,
without creating the image of an absolute world.
I was born in 1957 in the Southern Romanian town of Craiova.
In 1979, I interrupted my university studies in engineering to become
a full-time painter. For five years I studied church painting and restoration
that gave me the opportunity to learn and master all painting techniques
from the ancient fresco to the contemporary oil and acrylic. The influence
of the Byzantine style is noticeable in the suppleness of the personages.
Since 1989, while in Hungary, I completely dedicated myself to surrealism.
Moving to Canada meant real international recognition. I won various national
and international awards and have been shown and celebrated in several
art galleries. The prizes include first place at the "International
Salon of Art" in Montreal, and at the national HMV "Music in
Visual Art", Canada.
My paintings have been featured in galleries and exhibitions in Romania,
Hungary, Canada, the United States, Austria, France, and Mexico.
Some selected exhibitions:
Romania, several personal exhibitions in Arad, Buzias, Felix, Moneasa
(1980-1989) Montreal, SODARCO, First International visual art competition,
Jury's Special Mention (1993)
Montreal, Place Ville Marie, Exhibit of artists who are International
Prizes winners (1994)
Montreal-competition "ART VIEWED IN MUSIC", organized by HMV,
1st prize winner (1995)
Montréal, "Constantin Brâncusi" Cultural organization,
art competition – 1st prize (1995)
Quebec, Bon Pasteur Historical Chapel––personal exhibition
(1995)
Mexico, Neocalpan, Group exhibit organized by the Canadian Embassy in
Mexico (1993)
Hungary, included in the Hungarian “Who is Who” 1992
Hungary, Budapest, Group Exhibition , Professional Artists "Art Color"
Gallery (1991)
Hungary, Academy of Sciences and the Theological Academy––personal
exhibition (1990)
Budapest, "Christian Intellectual Foundation"––personal
exhibition
Budapest, International Spring Hall, group exhibition (1993)
Hungary, Budapest, Romanian Embassy, personal exhibition (1990)
Washington, DC, Romanian Embassy, personal exhibition (Dec 1999-Jan 2000)
Washington, DC, World Bank, group exhibition (2001)
Calgary, AB, ArtSpace Gallery, personal exhibition (December 2005)
UK, Cambridge, EE Fine Art Gallery, Surrealism group exhibition (2008)
France, several group and personal exhibitions in Paris, Vichy, and other
towns (1996–‘97, 2003-04)
Austria, several group exhibitions and auctions in Vienna (1996 -1997,
2003-04)
Galleries and Exhibitions (1990-2010):
Montreal, "Unique Concept" art gallery
Saint Sauveur, Quebec, Anny's Art Galerie
Laval, Gallery "Sonnen et Dubuc"
Laval, Maison des Arts, group ehibition
Mascouche, Fall Art Festival
Toronto, "Pegas" Gallery, Hazelton Complex
Calgary, AB, Avenida art gallery
Calgary, AB, Metamorphosa, Artspace
Victoria, BC, Fat Cat art gallery
Victoria, BC, Mocka Café, personal exhibition, December 2006
Chemainus, BC, Oak Leaf Gallery
US, New York, Paul Brezinsky art gallery, SOHO
Hungary, Budapest, "Fontana" Gallery permanent personal exhibition
UK, Cambridge, EE Fine Art Gallery, Surrealism group exhibition (2008)(representation)
Canada, City of Calgary Cultural Center group exibition (2009)
US, WAF group exhitionn(2009)
USA, Laguna Beach, Miranda Galeries(2009)
USA, Sausalito, ArtElite Gallery (representation)(2009)
USA, Carmel, Le Vernissage Gallery (representation)
USA, Las Vegas, 8Martini Gallery (Nov. 2009)
Portugal, Surrealism, International Exhibit. BISSAYA BARRETO FOUNDATION, COIMBRA, - 2010
USA, San Francisco, Driftwood Salon, The Realms Of The Ocean (representation)- 2010
USA, Santa Fe, Chalk Farm Gallery, group exhibition (representation)Video
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Where do you call home? How long have you lived
there?
My life is a "travel package," as I lived and worked in several
countries. From Romania, I went to Hungary, from Hungary to Canada––on
the East-coast (Montreal), then I lived a few years in the USA (Maryland),
and now, for the past five years I’m back to Canada––on
the west-coast, in Calgary, and looking forward to my future destination,
which is yet to be determined. As I was most of the time on the road,
my workspace was either in a corner of a room or a large studio. Right
now, almost all my house is a studio; I move my setting around the house
searching for the perfect spot of light and inspiration. Finally, my
home is the place where I setup my studio.
When did you start to make art?
I can’t point to a specific moment; I think that the biggest decision
and the moment of switching my life towards art was when I interrupted
my university studies in engineering and I dedicated myself entirely
to the artistic career. It was the idea of freedom of expression that
made me take the decision to become an artist. The “work of art”
is a process in the development defining an “artist”, with
no clear boundaries, and I can’t point to and exact moment in
time when I crossed towards that level.
How did you evolve into an artist?
During my early twenties I started to study about Parapsychology-related
phenomena, about the invisible part of us, about the power of being
a Human. This has had the most powerful influence in my art. It’s
about the power of love; it’s about the power of balance. All
my work is a struggle to discover the essence of life, to find the link
between the human reality and the spiritual one in order to distinguish
the light at the end of the tunnel. Enlightenment is what motivates
and guides me. The unknown, the energy and the struggle to discover
the essence of life, the movement and the metamorphosis are the basic
elements of my work. Each painting is a story, a rhapsody, a vision
into spirituality. I am trying to suggest only the idea of departure
in meditation toward perfection, without creating the image of an absolute
world.
What drove you to make art as a professional activity? What
does being an artists mean to you?
I was driven mainly by the freedom of expression and the need to communicate
my research and perception about life and the human existence. To be
an artist it’s not a “work” per se, it’s everything,
it’s a lifestyle; it’s a hobby, work, and way of existence.
After more than 30 years in visual art and after I passed the stages
of apprentice and painter, I like to think of myself as being an Artist:
He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands, and his head, and his heart, is An Artist"
St. Francis of Assisi
Can you sum up your art style?
For me, the visual form of expression in art is the surrealism, the
philosophical way of representation of the spiritual existence. The
painting is an image witch is at the same time real and unreal; an art
that has a dream-like vibration, not necessarily based on reality. I
am using a lot of symbols in my art, although not always. I am not trying
to create poetry, but an idea of liberation to go back to the “beginning
of all beginnings.” Everything is about the transition from conscious
to subconscious levels. I use elements of music, dance, and nature to
express harmony, movement, and transition; and always very vibrant and
strong colors to express and give energy and power.
Where do you look for inspiration? Music, other artists?
Light---Enlightenment--- Transition
I meditate. I search for an idea which was just a flash in the dark;
I catch that idea and then create a psychological outline; an immaterial,
mind-only, visual expression. Then I try the best I can with all my
technical knowledge to transpose this idea into our material world as
a visual image, as a vibration of a different dimension.
The second step is the most difficult and sometimes it
took me years of struggles to finish it. I have several “flashes”
in development but some of them are very old now, and I don’t
know if I will ever be able to touch the level of Enlightenment needed
for them.
I consider “Inspiration” as a relative term,
a “supra-definition” of just a normal connection with a
“different dimension.” In some people, this form of connection
is stronger, but usually it is there in all of us without any magic.
I believe all my “flashes” (of inspiration) are just a kind
of “vibration” that I am receiving from a hyperexistence
in which we are fully integrated. We have the Universe inside of us;
we are the Universe; we just need to allow ourselves to receive, interpret,
and recognize these “flashes” and give ourselves the time
to reflect on them….
Do you have a favorite piece, or is there a memorable experience
you can comment on while creating one of your pieces?
There are a lot of pieces that I love, but one particularly carries
me into “light”, and this is “The music dimension”.
When I created that painting I was there, I was inside of the image,
I was interacting with this spiritual dimension, I was “dreaming”
with my eyes open in a different level of consciousness.
Do you admire any specific other artists or authors or philosophers?
Everything what relates to human consciousness, to “enlightenment”,
is part of my daily philosophy; hence, I have a lot of admiration toward
these kinds of ideas and those who promote them.
One of my favorite authors is Carlos Castaneda and my favorite artist
is the Creation itself with nature as the absolute image; it represents
the perfection in a continuous movement.
What are your goals for the future?
Goals… I am the spectator watching myself acting and paying attention
to the upcoming events from the balance of life. I just want to continue
painting and conveying my ideas to those who want to pay attention.
If there is one thing you would like people to know who are
not yet familiar with your work, what would it be?
Look beyond the image; free yourself if you want to understand my art
work. The bridge of communication it’s inside you.
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