13 Painted Forms 

Romul Nutiu’s ‘13 Painted Forms’ are made from simple materials – painted forms raised on metal supports. The forms themselves appear to be made from plaster, or some other readily available casting material. The bright, expressive painting on these forms contrasts with their industrial-looking support structure and monochromatic surfaces. The effect is to bring a sense of freedom and gesture to otherwise anonymous, vertical shapes. Notice how the paint appears in patches across the surface, as if the artist is looking for key points to activate the form, in a lively and visually stimulating way. What does this tension between the cast form and the painterly intervention mean? Perhaps it represents the individual’s struggle to assert creativity within an increasingly industrialized world. Nutiu seems to be asking us to consider how we can find a way to make our mark on the world.