"The recent technological evolution, particularly the emergence of artificial intelligence, finds its applications extending even to painters, as various apps currently enable the placement of their artworks within minimalist or exotic domestic settings, according to individual preferences, through the so-called 'room mockups'. The trend of providing virtual exhibition space is not entirely novel, considering the online art fairs during the pandemic and their 'online (private) viewing rooms', virtual reality exhibitions, or other immersive platforms presenting artworks online. Furthermore, when taking into account the frenzy sparked by NFTs in their beginnings, one can consider the journey of an artwork from the artist's studio to the collector (be it public or private), via exhibitions, biennials, or international art fairs, at least as captivating as the topic of the work itself. The context in which a painting appears, from the moment it leaves the artist's studio, is therefore, the subject that the current exhibition explores through the selection of works by Francisc Chiuariu, a constant presence in exhibitions, biennials, and international art fairs, and one who also serves as a witness to this recent paradigm shift in contemporary art. His works, previously exhibited at major events, are now showcased in an institutional gallery that typically functions as a classic white cube, but, on this occasion, adopts a setup inspired by the aesthetics of virtual spaces resembling room mockups or viewing rooms." – Ana Daniela Sultana

Francisc Chiuariu (b. 1966) is a graduate of UNArte Bucharest, where he also taught between 1993 and 2000. In 2000, he distanced himself from the rebel neo-expressionist group Crinul, of which he had been a member since 1996, redirecting his focus towards an individual path in painting. His favored themes encompass the city, networks, and the human figure. He has exhibited at the Moscow Biennale, Art Vienna, the Liverpool Biennial, MoBU, as well as in group shows and art fairs in Paris and Tel Aviv. A big supporter of the NGO Hospice of Hope, he donates art works annually to benefit the organization’s charity auctions. Since 2012, he has been represented by AnnArt Gallery in Bucharest. Originally from Sibiu, he currently lives and works in Bucharest.

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.

Photo credit: Cătălina Flămînzeanu