Although a young artist (born in 1993), Theodor Grigoraș’s practice shows the character of a relatively introspect artist, trained in the exercise of the gaze. His eclectic manner may leave the impression of an undecided individual, but it is in fact a thirst for exploration. He chases several themes that manage to intertwine in a context that generates multiple meanings: if we look at the references he openly recognizes (Paul Thek and Anselm Kieffer), Grigoraș’s approach when composing the visual space follow logical coordinates. In addition, another dimension of exploration is that of a ritual, and especially the ritual involving the attribution or borrowing of a temporary identity. Here, Grigoraș quotes pagan practices maintained and transmitted in rural communities, meaningful to secular populations, or, in a similar manner, he uses more recent quotes – inspired from urban spaces, and born in the pop era – which Grigoraș looks upon with reserve, trying to dress them up with meanings and flavours – the DC Comics or the Marvel fantasy stories.
“What’s my spirit animal?” is a compilation of the new series underway in the post-Covid year, to which we added the series preceding it, synthesized in body of works such as Descărnare/ Fleshing and Delectatio Morosa but also the Metaanimal cycle. These series converge towards a research on identities assumed playfully, in a discovery-type of game, a process with strong meanings that has its roots in the first stages of life, that of intense curiosity when everything crystallizes into “who” and “why”. The act of returning as a ritual performed by one who believes “in something”, and not just “something” – is a balanced, conscious and premeditated act, which leads the viewer to question her/himself: “what would I be, if I had to be another?” Something we all do, anyway, as daydreamers.
Text by Ilina Schileru
This VR art exhibition is part of RoART Goes Virtual cultural project organized by Arbor Association of Culture and Arts (Romania), VR art exhibition is part of RoART Goes Virtual cultural project organized by Arbor Association of Culture and Arts (Romania), co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) and suppored by the Cultural Center ARCUB. The content of this project do not necessarily reflect the views of the donors.
VR exhibition
How to explore VR exhibitions
The virtual art exhibition is available in web browser and can be viewed on any desktop or laptop computer. To fully enjoy and experience the exhibition in Virtual Reality, we recommend a VR system. For mobile users, the VR exhibition is not yet available, but you can explore the artist’s portfolio.
Instructions: Use the arrow keys and the mouse/trackpad for navigation inside the VR exhibition. To exit press twice the ESC key.
