On Memory and Reminiscence
Radu Comsa
12 January – 8 March 2008

* view images | text in Italian *

CITRIC is pleased to present the first solo exhibition in Italy of young Romanian artist Radu Comsa (Sibiu, 1975).

Radu Comsa’s figurative painting can be essentially read in a metaphorical key and is built around certain episodes of his life and the history of his Country that are filtered through an intimate reflection. The title chosen for the exhibition, On Memory and Reminiscence, is intentially derived from Aristotle’s treatise bearing the same name, in which is explained distinctly the difference between the two concepts: memory is the mecchanical connection that exists within us between object and image, whereas reminiscence is seen as a volontary act that recalls an image to memory.

Comsa tries to evoke a world full of ambiguities through the reproduction of episodes, fragments, details, that do not show a clear and definite picture of a situation, but hint and suggest at it. A scene can develop and be understood by the spectator only through an installation composed of more paintings. Episodes of simple life, military parades, portraits of workers, details of a shirt are just some of the subjects that the artist portrays, even on circular canvases. This choice of format recalls metaphorically to looking through binoculars. Whilst focusing with the binoculars one sees two separate images which then become one, close-up, detailed image. Surrounding space can sometimes result as being sacrificed or obscured as if to give importance only to certain details.

Radu Comsa lives and works in Cluj, Romania, and has recently participated at the Prague Biennale 3, in the section Expanded Painting, and at Donumenta in Regensburg, in a project curated by Simona Nastac.

A monograph on the artist is being prepared, with text by Michele Robecchi.


Radu Comsa_On Memory and Reminiscence