Portrait II 2007

Curator: Sorin Ilfoveanu's "Portrait II," an acrylic painting created in 2007, greets us. Its bright, somewhat jarring colors create an immediate impression. Editor: Yes, it’s arresting. I am intrigued by the subject’s almost Byzantine solemnity mixed with this raw, almost childlike rendering. It creates a strange dissonance. Curator: Note the textures achieved with acrylics—how Ilfoveanu builds layers but also leaves visible brushstrokes. This immediacy points to the active labor of creation, of something handmade versus mass-produced. Even in 'portrait art,' the artist’s hand is evident, reminding us of production. Editor: Precisely. It reminds me of traditional religious iconography, where each element carries symbolic weight. Look at the cat draped over his shoulders, the bird in his hand, the vibrant foliage behind him. They are totems of a personal mythology. Curator: Do you believe the combination of figuration and the medium choice could also draw inspiration from folk-art and naive art styles, making the content accessible and somewhat undermining portrait art's historic, hierarchical presentation? Editor: Absolutely. The use of these naive-art-aligned symbols evokes primal connections—the cat representing domesticity, the bird possibly alluding to freedom, a connection to nature, rebirth, or spiritual aspirations. What is most evocative to me is his haunting stare that cuts through the color scheme. Curator: Right. It all emphasizes the materiality of lived experience. I look at how these everyday icons relate to social themes embedded into his culture—elements accessible to everyone. Editor: He clearly is reflecting on collective conscious or shared narrative with naive-art visual style, reminding viewers of inherent psychological symbolism of each subject matter. Curator: For me, the beauty of Ilfoveanu’s work lies in its very accessible composition while still being so interesting on an intellectual level. It speaks to anyone. Editor: Indeed. A work that is deceptive and that provides visual pleasure, sparking profound ideas and inviting prolonged viewing.