We know that the beginnings, in most fields, and even more so those when we’re on our own, are harder. It is the same in contemporary art, regardless of where you were born, where you live and work. We want to find out what a contemporary visual artist faces at the beginning of the journey, how they manage to continue their artistic activity. Cristina Dimus, graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Painting department of UNARTE in 2022, recently awarded at Saloanele Moldovei 2022, tells us about it.

How did you come into contact with the Romanian contemporary art?

I was passionate about painting as a child. Focșani, my hometown, did not have an arts high school in 1986 when I was going to take the entrance exam. I had to choose the Economic High School. I did not relate with any subject studied then. My notebooks, at the end, all had pencil drawings. They were naive, I admit. I was drawing during all the school breaks. I had two failed attempts to enter the art college in the early 90s; it is known that there were very few places available. For a long time, I did something completely different, for years I locked away my desire to study art.

I was once asked the question – what do I regret the most in this life? Or what I wanted to have, to do, and I didn’t succeed? The answer was firm: painting. Painting studied at the university, not „by ear”.

In 2017, the fate smiled on me. After a one-year internship, I entered UNARTE, the painting department, at the age of 47.  I studied for five years with the utmost seriousness and dedication. I didn’t miss any classes or seminars. I devoted as much time as there was natural light to practice in the workshop. When I had to turn on the lights because it was getting dark, I left. Artificial light totally changes the shades, the tones of the colors, I don’t work like that.

Did you exhibit during your studies? Are you currently working or exhibiting?

During my college years, I participated in numerous group contemporary art exhibitions, competitions, and events. Most were organized by the school but not only. I received merit scholarships from UNARTE for two years in a row. I was also sent by the school to art creation camps, I got prizes, mentions and nominations in various art competitions. Currently I managed to organize a personal exhibition. It took place in May 2022 in a contemporary art gallery that functions as an alternative space.

I can say that practicing painting professionally is second nature to me. It gives me the greatest satisfaction.

Do you just work in the studio or do you think art involves something more?

Not a day goes by that I don’t read something about art and artists or think about the following themes, works. By the way, I brought from Bucharest, to my home in Focșani, since I’m on vacation, two suitcases of art books that are waiting to be read.

With the end of the university courses, I decided to take a very short break to set up a studio at home. I will continue to paint, to experiment technically, to redo started themes. In this job the work never ends. Ideas always come for new themes, for some new work, with chromatic, technical approaches, different from what I have worked on before.

Going back to school vs the artistic reality after, the reality here, how are you actually doing? Intentionally or unintentionally, have you registered any changes?

Yes, regarding the practical part, it has changed over time. And it will surely continue to change. I fear monotony, self-sufficiency. I know I can do more and I need to keep studying. The results will come from the practice that I will approach. I am convinced that for a contemporary artist the first quality should be curiosity, then research and permanent experimentation. Every day that goes by without doing something in the workshop is a day lost for good.

Does art have any importance or is it just a passion of yours and that’s all?

I think art unites. It is communication of emotions, information, feelings, etc. Art has accompanied man since the dawn of history. Art is the only one that remains and it is our history, of humanity. Music, theater, books, films, painting, sculpture cannot be erased from history. Art stimulates, it is therapy. The role of art is to produce aesthetic pleasure and it is a main component of human culture. Art contributes to socialization and establishes a direct relationship with the work of art. I can’t imagine life without art. It would probably be dry, spiritually poor. Painting is and will remain for me a way of life, an ally, a friend who will not betray me.