Iulian Cristea is born in the Republic of Moldova. He attended the “Alexandru Plămădeală” Art College (2007-2011) in Chisinau and the Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts (2011-2015) also in Chisinau.
In 2015 he settled in Romania, where he did a master’s degree in sculpture at the National University of Art in Bucharest. He works mainly in wood, with natural or industrial materials.
Iulian Cristea has participated in numerous exhibitions, sculpture camps, and symposiums on monumental sculpture in the Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Luxembourg.
His works, noticed and awarded by specialists in the field, were exhibited in institutional and alternative spaces in the country and abroad. He currently lives and works in Bucharest.

When did you feel your purpose was to be an artist?

Maybe it is too much to say that since I was a kid I knew this, but certainly, since then I have been taking art very seriously. I was always fascinated whenever I discovered an image of an artwork or a new piece of music for me. I did not fully understand those works, but it made me even more open to art.

What does art mean to you?

Art for me is a way of expressing some things that you can best express through art; it can also come from our subconscious. It is a way of life. I organize myself in such a way that I always dedicate time to art. No matter how much art we have up to the present moment, many beautiful things can still be created.

Please tell me more about artistic practice?

I love sculpture a lot, for its complexity, and in general, I am attracted to sophisticated things. Working with this medium, I am feeling my best, but it is also a difficult medium to work with. The diversity you have in sculpture is enormous. In addition to the fact that you can make a sculpture from anything, it can incorporate other media and merge. It is fascinating. I like the other artistic media, and of course, I practice them, this inspires me and helps me a lot in the sculptures or installations I make. I rarely start working using a sketch or something already designed, I rather start working directly with what I have at hand, and I prefer to let the drawings as individual works.

What do you focus on in your work?

I focus completely on quality and simplicity. The message is important, but it is not always a direct one. Sometimes I do not even know the message of the product until the end. I work a lot. My subconscious dictates to me. I am in a game with my work, an increasingly difficult game as you move forward.

To what extent does the current social order focused on production, consumption, profit, and success influence your artistic practice?

I often intersect with these trends, but I organize my activity in such a way that it is not influenced very drastically. It is probably hard when you want to sell the art because many people prefer to invest in other things, and I do not judge anyone, every person has his/her passions.

How is sculpture perceived and consumed (today) by contemporary audiences?

The sculpture has always had its loyal audience, and those who get to know it more closely open up more to this artistic language, but it takes time. I do not think the admiration for sculpture depends on different periods, you simply like it. You may not be attracted to certain works, but so far I have not met anyone to dislike sculpture. And that is true for all the arts. At the moment, art is not on the list of priorities of the general public.

What difficulties encounters an artist who chooses to do sculpture?

Not mastering well enough the drawing can create problems, no matter what type of sculpture you choose to do, otherwise many difficulties will constantly appear throughout the artistic path regardless of the medium of expression. I believe you do not need too much to physically make a sculpture. The only problem I encounter so far is the storage of work. Because of this many works have been lost along the way. Now a problem for me may be the lack of space where I can work. It matters a lot what you want to do and how you handle the impediments you face. If you are flexible the solution will appear. For example, when it is beautiful outside you can go into nature to practice land art, or you can do digital sculpture, then you only need a laptop.

You have participated in numerous events (artistic residences, contests, exhibitions) dedicated to sculpture in the country and abroad. What did attendance at these events mean to you?

For the artist, it is a big bonus to get to know this practice. Besides the fact that you have to think on a much larger scale, often the project with which you come from home must be reconsidered. You have to adapt. You work in a new environment. It does not work according to the usual rules. You get out of your comfort zone. You compete with yourself. The people you get to know are wonderful, true professionals from all over the globe. If there is another opportunity, I will definitely go.

What is your relationship with the artistic environment?

I am in a good relationship that is constantly developing. I have not met much of the art community yet, so I cannot have a clear idea.

Do you think an artist can make himself known on his own or only collaborating with an art gallery can guarantee his success?

If the result of your work is constantly developing, then I believe that success, at some point, will occur. No one can guarantee that to you, nor in what form can no one tell you exactly. For me, the concept of “success” is something vague and subjective. I do not know when exactly a person can consider himself successful. There is always room to grow. Consistency and patience are to be followed.

How much time do you spend in the studio?

At the moment I do not have one, but when I had one, most of my free time I was there. It is very convenient to work in a studio, and when you come back, you find everything exactly as you left. You just have to continue your thought. I think whoever has had the opportunity to work in a studio and no longer has one, misses it.

Do you need a certain mood to be able to create or does inspiration come naturally the moment you start working?

We are always in a certain mood, but I think to me it is more about the inspiration that comes when I start working. Boredom generates new ideas, for example, I am inspired by everything or action.

How do you select the materials you work with? What about the topics?

I usually choose the idea that I consider to be the most elaborate at the moment; it is more a matter of the moment. If I do not have a clear vision about what the artwork should look like, the part with the materials I can also leave it at the end, either it develops at the same time as the concept.

When do you know you have finished a work?

I never know when it is ready, I just stop at the stage where I do not know what else to do, or it is no longer as up-to-date as to when I started it and I am no longer attracted to the idea. I have works that have been put on hold for years, which I do not think I will be able to work on until they are completed. It often happens to me to still want to intervene in some, to add or modify something, but I hardly give in to the challenge, I prefer to do new ones.

Very often when entering a contemporary art gallery, the audience is faced with the famous question is this art? Why do you think art today is a challenge for the viewer?

There is probably no deeper education in this regard, I cannot say exactly. It is also because of many things or events that position themselves as artistic or include art. Art is used a lot for various purposes, which leads the audience into confusion.

What do you think is the role of art and its purpose in a changing contemporary society?

I cannot even imagine what the world would look like without art. It is all that surrounds us. How sad that would be! Art can also contribute to changes in society; it can come with something beneficial. The art made now will help the generations after to develop, know, and to discover.

What are the prospects for the future?

I am going to work the same way. I will be as active as possible in the field, and I will express the new things I discover in an artistic form. I will be looking for a workshop.

Credit cover foto: @soltan_anton