Catalin Petrisor

My paintings are seamless renditions based on compilations of cut-outs, mostly from found photographs. By the means of photo-editing, I have begun to sense the specific “reality” I wish to present as directly generated by the manipulation of the image’s structure, as a self-fulfilling prophecy. I am interested in the illusionist space: the situation in which, with the help of the most discreet interventions, one can alter a form to the point of creating a new dimension. It is paradoxically through representation that I am searching for the status of questioning the reality of the image and the reasons of its existence.

The support of my work is the observation that contemporary imagery puts us in a state of awe and as we are targeting the image, our inner core is also targeted and slightly changes with our every gaze. Because media and technology became so advanced, because we live in fact within the image world, it became difficult to orientate between model, copy and simulacra. Manual reproduction presents the viewer with an approachable, trustworthy depiction. Painting is a method to authenticate.

One of my practice essentials is to overlap contour drawings made in graphite on finished paintings. It is a form of vandalism directed at my own authority, presenting the multidimensionality of this world and pointing out that there are several possible directions, that things are not unambiguous or dual, but have many faces. – Cătălin Petrișor – statement

1978 – born in Craiova, RO
lives and works in Craiova, RO

EDUCATION
2002-2004 – M.A., Visual Arts, University of Art and Design of Cluj-Napoca, RO
2004 – 3 months scholarship, Socrates-Erasmus Program, Athens School of Fine Arts, GR
1997-2002 – B. A., Fine Arts / Painting, University of Art and Design of Cluj-Napoca, RO

RESIDENCIES
2008 – ”In constructie – 2”, International Centre of Contemporary Art, Bucharest, RO

AWARDS
2004 – Prize of DWS presidium (Deutscher Wirtschaftsclub Siebenburgen) at the 3rd edition of the German’ Economic Club in Transilvania Art Prize for young artists’ promotion in painting, Sibiu, RO

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2007 – ”Chroma sky (blue key)”, Anaid Art Gallery, Bucharest, RO
2006 – ”Cult”, Anaid Art Gallery, Bucharest, RO

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012 –  “Renovation and collateral effects”, Oana Farcaș, Cătălin Petrișor, Liu Weijian, Galerie Dix9, Paris, FR
2011 – ”Colouring the Grey – State of Mind”, curator Cosmin Năsui, The Artists’ House, Tel Aviv, IL (book)
2011 – ”Post Humanism”, curator Cosmin Năsui, V-Art Gallery, Moscow, RU
2011- ”Colouring the Grey”, curator Cosmin Năsui, Special Projects section, 4th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Artplay Design Centre, Moscow, RU (book)
2010 – ”Impermanence”, Hendershot Gallery, New York, US
2010 – ”Acquisitions 2009 – a selection”, De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam, NL
2009 – ”Fast Forward”, curator Maria Rus Bojan, C-Projects, The Hague, NL
2009 – ”Urban Fictions”, curator Irina Cios, organized by ICCA at THE ARK Gallery, Bucharest, RO
2009 – ”Understatement” (together with Ana Maria Micu), curator Maria Rus Bojan, C-Space, Beijing, CN
2009 – ”….Expectations”, curator Maria Rus Bojan, temporary space, Dé is Ka & de Verzameling, Barbara Strozzilaan 314-316, Amsterdam, NL
2008 – ”Strategies for concealing”, curator Maria Rus Bojan, C-Space Gallery, Beijing, CN (catalogue)
2008 – ”Urban Art”, arhitectural projections festival, Bucharest, RO
2007 – ”Urban Art”, arhitectural projections festival, Bucharest, RO
2005 – ”I love pictura, under construction space”, Hotel Continental, Cluj-Napoca, RO
2005 – ”International Biennale of Contemporary Art, National Gallery, Prague”, CZ (catalogue)
2005 – ”European Blue/ Young Generation”, Aula Gallery, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, PL (catalogue)
2004 – ”Airbag”, National Art Museum Cluj-Napoca, RO
2004 – ”DWS Art Award Exhibition”, Contemporary Art Gallery of Brukenthal Museum, Sibiu, RO
2003 – ”Urban Emotion”, Galeria Gallery, Bucharest, RO
2003 – ”DWS Art Award Exhibition”, Contemporary Art Gallery of Brukenthal Museum, Sibiu, RO
2003 – ”Skin”, Atas Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, RO
2002 – ”Ana Maria Micu & Cătălin Petrişor”, Atelier 35 Gallery, Bucharest, RO
2002 – ”Dream Sequence”, U.A.P. Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, RO

WORKS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
”The Next Dog” and ”Eye for an Eye” (2005) – the Collection of The National Gallery in Prague:
”Memorial House” (2009) – De Nederlandsche Bank’s Collection