Interview with Valentina Baicuianu — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Valentina invites viewers to a plastic discourse about living, reflecting, finding ( in the sense of finding oneself ) and reconciling (as well with self). In a world where the person is camouflaged, the thinking is in the pattern; the values are reshaped. Valentina invites the viewer to an exercise of introspection. Although it does not have specialised studies, in its artistic approach, she has had several routes, searches, to find a modern expression of the portrait. After twenty years of corporate career, at the beginning of a new path, the artist proposes confrontation with her own experiences, she is revealing her universe with great honesty.

Many of her works are suggestive for the artistic evolution of the last two years, many of which are already in private collections in the country and abroad. Her works reveal the sources of inspiration, the search for own artistic style, the abandonment and the finding in the box: “Many of my works are personae, experiences and emotions translated into a plastic metaphor that invites its viewers to do, in turn, the decoding exercise. Valentina is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and was born into a family from Bucharest, where her mother and aunt had artistic inclinations and a talent that followed her for the rest of her life. As an artist, she values creativity, authenticity, living in all its diversity, being a permanent source of reflection.

I am Romanian, born in Bucharest in a family where my mother and her younger sister had an impressive drawing talent, but the political climate back then was almost toxic for artists, so eventually they didn’t pursue their calling. My first true experience with painting portraits was in fifth grade. Years later, I graduated from Law University and built an amazing career in the corporate world, keeping an eye on the art phenomenon as a passionate observer.

For more than 20 years, I ignored my drawing skills, until early 2018, when I had an inner call to start painting, knowing that it was always there, patiently waiting for the right time to come. And the right time eventually came, so in early 2018 I embarked myself on an amazing art journey, one of continuous creativity, exploration and growth and everything has evolved gradually. Art is an inner call, a spiritual need; there are so many things to communicate through my art. I am a self-educated artist. I value creativity, authenticity. My focus is on the entire everyday life spectrum; my overall influence comes from life itself, people and my emotions. I aim to recreate the everyday characters through most of my portraits, aiming to catch a certain expression, a thought, an attitude. People are a never-ending source of creativity. Every portrait brings out a different message.

How would you describe yourself and your artwork?

I am an introvert with the very rich inner world. Most of my paintings have a story behind, emotions, thoughts, feelings. Mine in general, therefore most of my paintings are personae.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Life itself is a never ending source of inspiration.

What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?

Many of my works are personae, experiences and emotions translated into a plastic metaphor that invites its viewers to do, in turn, the decoding exercise. The plastic discourse is about living, self-finding, self reconciliation, thoughts, emotions, therefore an invitation to introspection.

When do you know that an artwork is finished?

When I stare at the painting with brush in one hand and pallet in the other and can't put one extra brush stroke on canvas.

What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?

There are many moments. When I sold my first painting. When a regular client can't stop himself not to buy another artwork, when I see appreciations growing months after months, people reaction in front of my paintings , how number of viewers grow in hundreds of thousands of online art galleries.

How long does it take to produce one work?

It depends. From hours 7-8 h with small breaks to weeks and sometimes months when I turn the painting to face the wall, to forget a bit about it and be able to continue with the same passion.

What exciting projects are you working on right now? Can you share some of the future plans for your artwork?

I have no specific project other than exercising and improving my skills, becoming better . I am working on some series - art deco inspired, art nouveau, symbolism, underwater series and looking forward to starting the human in motion series.

Do you have any upcoming events or exhibitions we should know about?

I had 2 group exhibitions in December 2019 in Italy, February-March another group exhibition in London. This year I would like to have one solo show and maybe two more group exhibitions. No big plans. Just small steps.