Mihail Grecu – Amidst metaphor and objective reality

The exhibition features 72 works by Mihail Grecu (1916-1998), one of the most prominent 20th century artists in the Republic of Moldova. The selection, drawn exclusively from the comprehensive collection of the National Museum of Art of Moldova, highlights the innovative character of the artist’s output and his pursuit of novel means of artistic expression. As years went by his painterly discourse became increasingly more intense.
During the early years of his career (1940s-1950s) Mihail Grecu explored light and shadow as much as spatial relationships; this first stage, anchored in the aesthetics of old masters, was followed by a more post-impressionist one (late 1950s-1960s) when the artist focused primarily on light and pure colours. In the 1970s his paintings, rooted in an objective reality, gained a touching depth. The painter experimented with a wide range of unconventional materials hardly typical of easel painting, such as bitumen, industrial paints and lacquers, bronze and silver powder, spray paints. These became the trademark of a highly individualised artistic and spiritual world.

21 April – 10 June 2018
National Museum of Art of Romania
Exhibition entrance: Știrbei Vodă Street, No. 1-3

Curator: Tudor Zbârnea, general Director of the National Museum of Art of Moldova
Tickets: 10 lei
Free every first Wednesday of the month