Radu Comsa

biography | images

 

Born in Sibiu, Romania, 1975

Lives and works in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Work: Painting, installations, video installations

 

Education

current 
PhD study in the field of visual culture & painting: “PROPAGANDA – types of  discourse in the visual contemporary arts”, University of Art & Design, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

2001     
MA degree, University of Art & Design, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

1999     
graduated from the University of Art & Design in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (formerly called "Ioan Andreescu" Academy of Visual Arts), Faculty of Fine Arts, painting section


Solo exhibitions

2008
On Memory and Reminiscence, CITRIC, publication of a monograph with text by Michele Robecchi

2001     

excite.com, Matei House, (video installation & action), Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Love upon open heart, Sindan Gallery (video installation/ object), Cluj-Napoca, Romania

2000    

Exil, Atas Gallery of the University of Art and Design (installation/ object/ painting), Cluj-Napoca, Romania

1999     

Golem, Matei House (painting installation), Cluj-Napoca, Romania

1997     

The German Cultural Centre, the Merz Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

 

Group Exhibitions

2007
Donumenta, "How to Build a Universe that does not Fall apart Two Days Later", curated by Simona Nastac, Regensburg, Germany
Expanded Painting 2, Prague Biennale 3, Prague, Czech Republic

2004    

Airbag, National Museum of Art, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

2003     

Romanian Cultural Centre, Budapest, Hungary

Contemporary Art Gallery of the Bruckenthal Museum, Sibiu, Romania

2001     

Union of Hungarian Artists’ Gallery, Budapest, Hungary

1998     

The German Cultural Centre, the Merz Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

 

Awards

2003     

Prize of DWS presidium (Deutscher Wirtschaftsclub Siebenburgen) at the second edition of the German Economic Club in Transilvania Art Prize for young artists promotion in painting, Romania

 

About work

With a preserved childish vision of today, Radu Comsa recalls memories of his childhood faded from his mind; repressed memories (some of them apparently insignificant scenarios of an observant boy). It is not another story concerning communism – as it may seem at first glance. His works are not loaded with serious political controversy or historical abbreviations, but have an incommensurate joy of pointing the other face of the same reality. He guides his interest to another direction. Between the past, and what is to come, the involutary memory makes unexpected discoveries: unfashionable people, useless toys, unemotional, ironic circumstances, unnoticed views. Comsa’s painting aims at delivering a proustian sort of happiness, induced by the recognition of the past in a present moment.