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Artist Statement:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Exhibitions:
PERSONAL EXIBITIONS
Exibitions list
Personal Exhibitions
organizated by Romanian
Artists Union:
2001, August-I had my first
personal exhibition with icons
on wood at ArTei Gallery
Bucharest, organizated by
Romanian Artists Union-UAP,
curator ANA DOBJANSCHI, art
historian.
2003, April-I had my second
personal exhibition at the
same gallery,...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
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Collections:
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Commissions:
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Reviews for Claudiu Victor Gheorghiu:
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NINE O'CLOCK
Interview with painter Claudiu Victor Gheorghiu
Real Christmas icons are painted after Byzantine rules
published in issue 3585 at 2023-12-05
One of the most successful icon painters in Romania is Claudiu Victor Gheorghiu, a name that imposed itself abroad in several exhibitions in Italy. Gheorghiu paints Orthodox icons after the strict Byzantine tradition and he shares with us the joy of Christmas celebrations.
What is from an icon painters point of view, the significance of Nativity celebrations?
The Holy celebration should represent for each Christian, irrespective of their confession, a moment of joy and hope, conveyed by the idea that our saviour Jesus Christ was born to take over humanity's sins. Our Saviour is a unique figure in humanity's history, as He is both God and man, the Son of God, he received life from the Holy Spirit and came to be through Virgin Mary. Christmas keeps this image alive, and this is the main idea that we should keep in mind, not the pagan rituals and the modern day image of a fat Santa drinking a bottle of juice.
How is the Nativity presented in Romanian icons?
First of all this is one of the fixed date celebrations that Orthodox church keeps in the yearly calendar among the twelve consecrated traditional days. There are 12 so-called kingly feasts, eight glorifying the Saviour and three His mother Virgin Mary. These twelve feasts are comprised in the big icon gate that separates the nave from the altar. In the upper part of this rood screen there are the portraits of Jesus Christ and of Virgin Mary, and there is also the Nativity scene.
Nativity scenes are painted according indications from the Orthodox icon rules, (called herminies in the Byzantine tradition, these rules are written in special books with norms). The painters who closely follow the Byzantine tradition paint Virgin Mary on her knees placing Baby Jesus in the manger, and in the background there are oxen. On the left there is Saint Joseph also on his knees, and over the scene there is a host of angels welcoming the arriving of the Saviour. Also on the left there are the three Eastern kings, on horses, coming from a behind a mountain cliff, and on the right there are several shepherds looking at the Baby Jesus.. IN the traditional icon, the star is not painted above the manger, because according to Saint Mathew “ the star rose and shone over the place where the Infant was placed.” So the star has to be painted on the sky.
You have an icon exhibition in Bucharest during the holidays. Will you tell us more about it?
Between December 5 and January 5, TC Art Gallery hosts a joint exhibition comprising of my works and works from Paul Constantin and maestro Ion Salisteanu. I placed my icons in a shape form, as I usually do on my exhibitions. Three of the works are dedicated to Nativity: a classical icon and two frontlets, which I also displayed at the Imagina 6 exhibition in Italy in December 2004. On these frontlets there are praising songs dedicated to Nativity, both in Romanian and Italian and there are also Nativity scenes.
How is the interest for icons on the Romanian market, especially during this time of the year?
I am not really aware of the interest the 21st century man and especially Romanians have for icons, but my message for them is to make a clear distinction between commercial and authentic, between canons and kitsch. Keep away from obscure icons, as they do not represent the tradition of Byzantine painting. Choose consecrated names painting after the rules, choose a work from Elena Murariu, Sorin Dumitrescu or without false modesty by myself.
How do Romanian traditional icons represent the face of Jesus Christ, from His birth to his ascension to the skies?
Romanian iconography of Byzantine tradition shows the face of our Saviour as it is imposed by the rules, as Patriarch Gherman of Constantinople wrote in his letter sent to Publlius Lentulus- Proconsul of Judea, and this letter is in Vatican manuscripts. Patriarch Gherman said: His face was delicate and noble. No one has never seen Him smile, but they saw Him cry several times.
by Nine oClock
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