Cristi Gaspar’s paintings, from the „Losing innocence” series, exposed in Spazio design studio/ art gallery, intimidate and explode into your mind similar to a confession received without asking for one.

These artworks have nothing in common to those paintings which keep the painter’s private life locked shut. Not even to the ones that allow the art viewer to mould them according to his own fantasies. Gaspar’s paintings are individual and have a strong personality because they speak in a monologue about the three stages of the artist’s private life: childhood, adolescence and maturity.

Surreal worlds with flying elephants, pig royalties, deformed love scenes and slippers, blackened wings and white winged temptations reveal the artist losing innocence in powerful colors and expressionist touches. His style cannot be placed in a particular school, even though his artworks are inspired by modernist currents. The series seem to have been inspired from urban comics, from Dali’s corrupt shapes, but also by the reality of everyday’s life trivial objects (a pair of abandoned slippers by the bed or a beach towel).

One might say about Gaspar’s paintings that they are… ugly, judging by classical canons of beauty, however they do not disturb, on the contrary, they intrigue, have impact and send a message. Maybe the message could be that even if you have lost your innocence, nobody is keeping you from still playing with it. Somewhat similar to the way the painter played with his own on the canvas, almost childish, under the pretext of an adult story.

Ioana Mitu

Timeout, 2 apr 2010

http://www.timeoutbucuresti.ro/arta/6350/5801776/expozitie-cristi-gaspar-pierderea-inocentei.html<