Vivid characters, full of feelings and emotions, are lead by the thirst for liberating and freeing knowledge, those doors or windows connecting the ancient and the Earth, imagination and reality, the man and the universe. Various letters, present in all the works, are a symbol of the word, of the information. These previously mentioned characteristics are all innate of the surrealist style of Ciprian Istrate.
Born in Piatra-Neamt, the birthplace of Victor Brauner, in a mountain area full of traditions and customs, he grew up in a society possessing a strong conservative and religious spirit, which has strongly affected the artist’s evolution. Received as a legacy of the family, he embraced everything and began to see ahead, to seek further. The entire period of research and revelations, altogether with his personal discoveries are reflected in his work. The artist began with drawings and caricatures, willing to transform the various faces that were presented to him. His roots, the traditions and beliefs of that period have influenced his study of theology and religious paintings.
For years, he painted churches and icons, but realized that type of art was not destined for him. He didn’t find himself in religious paintings, full of stencils and restrictions, but the process helped him to discover the style that represents him today. For many years, he has presented his work in Romania and abroad, in many exhibitions, both in groups of artists or as a solo artist.
In 2005, his work was exhibited in Belgium, in Anvers, followed in 2006 by Holland and in 2009 by the "Romanian Academy" in Rome. In 2011 he exhibited amongst other artists in Verbania (Italy).
During the period when he painted churches, he was awarded three meritorious awards by the Archdiocese of Moldavia and Bucovine. At the same time, it was the same church that had rejected his thesis, considering his vision as an artist to exceed the tolerance and religious beliefs.
His thesis - "Adam before the appearance of Eve" - presents an androgynous Adam showing the balance of masculinity and femininity, as well as the equality of the human races. On the contrary, the Vatican noticed his thesis, and after its presentation the artist was rewarded by receiving a scholarship at the Aletti center. He has participated in a few biennials in Romania and has received the 2009 Special Jury Prize.
The artist's work is now in private collections in Romania, Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, the United States.
"Over the time, I have adopted several techniques and styles. What I do now defines me the best. It is a style of initiation, purely spiritual. Every element painted on the canvas represents something, nothing happens by chance. I like to share this type of work with people because it comes from the inside. Through my work, I speak of knowledge as a way to enlighten you, to help you find yourself, to break your habits and the walls surrounding you, so that you allow yourself to really taste the freedom.
Schools restrain their students freedom, traditions limit one's horizons and the people’s experience will only guide you on familiar or already used paths. It is convenient to follow them without asking any questions. We accept what we are supposed to do and what not to, what is allowed and what is not, what is good and what is bad, all that being done in a mechanical way like robots do, while knowledge, the spirit of research and our inner introspection lead us to the discovery of our own balance.
Freedom exists in everyone, we just have to open our eyes to see it.
Born in Piatra-Neamt, the birthplace of Victor Brauner, in a mountain area full of traditions and customs, he grew up in a society possessing a strong conservative and religious spirit, which has strongly affected the artist’s evolution. Received as a legacy of the family, he embraced everything and began to see ahead, to seek further. The entire period of research and revelations, altogether with his personal discoveries are reflected in his work. The artist began with drawings and caricatures, willing to transform the various faces that were presented to him. His roots, the traditions and beliefs of that period have influenced his study of theology and religious paintings.
For years, he painted churches and icons, but realized that type of art was not destined for him. He didn’t find himself in religious paintings, full of stencils and restrictions, but the process helped him to discover the style that represents him today. For many years, he has presented his work in Romania and abroad, in many exhibitions, both in groups of artists or as a solo artist.
In 2005, his work was exhibited in Belgium, in Anvers, followed in 2006 by Holland and in 2009 by the "Romanian Academy" in Rome. In 2011 he exhibited amongst other artists in Verbania (Italy).
During the period when he painted churches, he was awarded three meritorious awards by the Archdiocese of Moldavia and Bucovine. At the same time, it was the same church that had rejected his thesis, considering his vision as an artist to exceed the tolerance and religious beliefs.
His thesis - "Adam before the appearance of Eve" - presents an androgynous Adam showing the balance of masculinity and femininity, as well as the equality of the human races. On the contrary, the Vatican noticed his thesis, and after its presentation the artist was rewarded by receiving a scholarship at the Aletti center. He has participated in a few biennials in Romania and has received the 2009 Special Jury Prize.
The artist's work is now in private collections in Romania, Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, the United States.
"Over the time, I have adopted several techniques and styles. What I do now defines me the best. It is a style of initiation, purely spiritual. Every element painted on the canvas represents something, nothing happens by chance. I like to share this type of work with people because it comes from the inside. Through my work, I speak of knowledge as a way to enlighten you, to help you find yourself, to break your habits and the walls surrounding you, so that you allow yourself to really taste the freedom.
Schools restrain their students freedom, traditions limit one's horizons and the people’s experience will only guide you on familiar or already used paths. It is convenient to follow them without asking any questions. We accept what we are supposed to do and what not to, what is allowed and what is not, what is good and what is bad, all that being done in a mechanical way like robots do, while knowledge, the spirit of research and our inner introspection lead us to the discovery of our own balance.
Freedom exists in everyone, we just have to open our eyes to see it.
Bistri's Childhood (L'enfance de Bistri)
© RomanianArtworks
Whether you like it or not, you are the product of what you received in your childhood and that will follow you till the end of your natural term.
Acrylic on wood
27" x 21.5" (69 cm X 55 cm)
Acrylic on wood
27" x 21.5" (69 cm X 55 cm)
It's Just A Game
© RomanianArtworks
Acrylic on Canvas
39" x 23.5" (100 cm X 60 cm)
When Mouth Shuts, Inside Talks
© RomanianArtworks
Confronted with obstacles, constraints or silence, strong souls rebel against those and pierce the red walls.
Acrylic on canvas
39" x 23.5" (100 cm X 60 cm)
Acrylic on canvas
39" x 23.5" (100 cm X 60 cm)
TABULA RASA
© RomanianArtworks
Imagine some explanation based on your experience and your life. Then visualize the opposite of yourself, all that you are, the boldest possible ... could that be good?
Could it be possible?..."
Oil on canvas
63" x 31.5" (160 cm X 80 cm)
Beyond the Walls
© RomanianArtworks
The young artist's daughter, once she took a bite from the apple of knowledge, managed to see beyond the limits, the barriers and the stencils.
Acrylic on Wood
30" x 27.5" (77 cm X 70 cm)
Acrylic on Wood
30" x 27.5" (77 cm X 70 cm)
Light of Knowledge
© RomanianArtworks
The door represents a gate, a passage that takes place through the knowledge of light. The flame of the candles reveal the old face of a man that whispers "The angels are singing in my soul".
Acrylic on wood
61" x 31.5" (155 cm X 80 cm)
Acrylic on wood
61" x 31.5" (155 cm X 80 cm)
Changing Past
© RomanianArtworks
The most important thing on Earth is how much we love each others...and everything else.
Acrylic on wood
19.5" x 15.5" (50 cm X 40 cm)
Acrylic on wood
19.5" x 15.5" (50 cm X 40 cm)
Freedom of Feelings
Schools and religion teach us to avoid the evil, the darkness and any other problems of the kind. By avoiding them, we will not know if we have managed to surpass them.
Acrylic on Wood
15.5" x 11.5" (40 cm X 30 cm)
Interior Dialogue
Knowledge, penciled on the forehead of a livid young girl, apparently without any expression or emotion, reveal to the viewer the methods of unwinding so familiar to humans, together with the experience and experimentation of each of us.
Acrylic on Wood
29.5" x 20.5" (75 cm X 52 cm)
Acrylic on Wood
29.5" x 20.5" (75 cm X 52 cm)
Duality
"I imagine a wonderful world, but my inner-self can do this better than I do"
Acrylic on Wood
28.5" x 15.5" (73 cm X 40 cm)
Acrylic on Wood
28.5" x 15.5" (73 cm X 40 cm)
Leave the Kids Alone!
The androgynous child in the painting is born in this world as a pure and divine being. Then begins the "programming". Those surrounding him begin his education, the teaching process, in order to feed him information. The child grows up and joins the society, assuming and owning all the knowledge as his belief, his principles and traditions of his predecessors.
He lives bound by stencils until he begins to ask questions and rediscover himself.
Therefore, he creates his own truth, enriched with balance and freedom.
Acrylic on Wood
27.5" x 17.5" (70 cm X 45 cm)
He lives bound by stencils until he begins to ask questions and rediscover himself.
Therefore, he creates his own truth, enriched with balance and freedom.
Acrylic on Wood
27.5" x 17.5" (70 cm X 45 cm)
Boundlessness
This is a story of past loves, but also of those of the future, the loves that make you feel alive and color your life.
Acrylic on Canvas
15.5" x 11.5" (40 cm X 30 cm)
Acrylic on Canvas
15.5" x 11.5" (40 cm X 30 cm)
The Way Back Home
We are all one in God's eyes.
Acrylic on canvas
39" x 31.5" (100 cm X 80 cm)
SOLD
Acrylic on canvas
39" x 31.5" (100 cm X 80 cm)
SOLD
Dissonance
Many will see that you are ready and you deserve a better life. Even you will feel it. But, until you let your imagination fly with its own wings, the creative process will remain handcuffed, life will be caged within the limits of a frame.
Acrylic on Canvas
39" x 27.5" (100 cm X 70 cm)
Acrylic on Canvas
39" x 27.5" (100 cm X 70 cm)
© RomanianArtworks 2011 - 2015