“Ever more refined and conceptual, the artistic practice of Eugen Raportoru, who oscillates with versatility between painting and installation, surprises this time through minimalism and monochrome, without, however, leaving even the smallest detail outside of a true metaphorical structure. The opening of his solo show takes place on a Friday, the exhibition period is between the Catholic and Orthodox Easters, and the selection of works consists only of three large paintings, each representing a cross. While his famous previous installations ‘Childhood Room’ (MNAC), ‘On the road’ (ICR London) or ‘The Abduction from the Seraglio’ (Venice Biennale) abound in clichés and component elements, in ‘Resurrection’ Eugen Raportoru comes with an exuberant simplicity, austere and overwhelming to convey an artistic message similar to a paschal blessing. Of course, the interpretations can vary if we think for example about one's own cross (with the meaning of destiny) that everyone carries, even Eugen Raportoru. An exhibition/installation in which the characteristic colors, with abundant variations of gray - already a signature for the artist - together with subtle elements, such as frankincense scent, stand for a complex internationally recognized artistic personality. ‘Resurrection’ is, thus, both a stylistic formula destined for the visual exploration of the mystery of the Cross, as well as a kind of artistic therapy liberating us from all the greyness of the day.” Ana Daniela Sultana

Eugen Raportoru (b. 1961, Bucharest) is a Romanian artist decorated by the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, with the Order of Cultural Merit, Knight rank, C category – Visual Arts. He graduated from the National University of Arts in Bucharest, Painting Department (with a BA in 2009 and a MA in 2011). Since 2010 he is a member of the Fine Arts Union (UAP) from which he received multiple awards. His work has been exhibited in various solo and group shows, but also in biennials, salons, and art fairs both locally and internationally. His artistic practice focuses mainly on two directions: painting and installation. In 2020, his installation titled “Childhood Room” was purchased by The National Museum of Contemporary Art of Romania. In 2022, his exhibition “The Abduction from the Seraglio”, commissioned by ERIAC, was a collateral event of the 59th edition of the Venice Art Biennial and the same year he also opened his exhibition titled „Gelem, Gelem, Samudaripen” about the deportation of Roma people. In 2023 he opened yet another memorable solo show, “Eugen Raportoru – Heritage” at the Marble Hall from The National Museum of Contemporary Art of Romania. Besides, he exhibited at The Romanian Cultural Institute in London, The Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Vatican, under the aegis of UNESCO, at The Ethnic Museum in Oslo and Stockholm, and in several museums all over the country (The Museum of Bucharest, The Literature Museum in Bucharest, The “Pavel Șușară” Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, The Brukenthal National Museum from Sibiu, The Bistrița-Năsăud Museum Complex, The Galați Museum of Fine Arts, The Art Museum in Constanța, The „Alexandru Ștefulescu” Museum of Gorj County, etc.), as well as in many galleries and art centers.

Ana Daniela Sultana is a curator and columnist, who graduated from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Her articles appear in ARTA magazine, Romanian-Italian Cultural Horizons and on agentiadecarte.ro. She collaborates with institutions such as creart – the Center for Creation, Art and Tradition of Bucharest, the International Cultural Centre in Krakow, the Romanian Cultural Institute in Istanbul, the Romanian Cultural Institute in Vienna, the Austrian Cultural Forum in Bucharest, the Museum of Bucharest, the Literature Museum in Bucharest, the Art Museum of Timișoara, Kunsthalle Feldbach, Aluniș Art Center and with various contemporary art galleries.