Victoria Zidaru
She was born 1956 in Liteni, Suceava, Romania. From 1978 to 1983 she studied at the Institute of Fine Arts Nicolae Grigorescu.
Her artwork includes paintings, graphics, sculpture and embroidery. Her works have a natural purity, made from handmade paper, cloth and medicinal herbs. ⒸA.D.
Victoria Zidaru with a strong objective presence directed towards metaphysical reading, creates an installation of both austerity and a banquet of senses. The symbolical and definite spiritual intent is only counterbalanced by the materiality of her “objects”. The unifying line between “Heaven and Earth” is ensured and the presence of the natural fragrances and textures are pointing to a deeper meaning and other dimensions, suggested through the “writings”, signs and symbols needed for the guidance of one’s journey. Victoria’s work relies heavy on a laborious process of tackling the matter and submitting it, while practicing a very particular “Way”, apparent in her compositions and the entire configuration of her installations.
Her endeavours seems to point to a ritualistic action and the actual objects have the power of energetically charged elements. The artist is committed to this permanent practice and her installations evolve naturally from a show to another with uninterrupted effort and dedication. This is her “modus vivendi”.
Due to the materials used, the work has an archaic aura and that creates the atemporal dimension. Vital energies embodied in the dried fibres still emanate and the whole process appears to be that of “recreation” of a lost Paradise. Sometimes Victoria is giving us hints that we are still living in such a place, but we are unable or unprepared to see it. She is “helping” us understanding that all, on a metaphorical and conceptual level. ⒸBogdam Molea
PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
2016 Florilegiu, Retrospective exhibition, Galeria Tipografia, Bucharest, Romania
2016 Zis și Cusut, Galeria H’art Appendix, Bucharest, Romania
2014 Îngeri, Tronuri, Voievozi, together with sculptor Marian Zidaru, Brâncovenești Palaces Cultural Center Mogoșoaia, Romania
2009 Lucrătorul, Strametz- Partener/Art, Bucharest, Romania
2008 Anotimpurile Îngerilor, Galeria Particulară Pralong, Bucharest, Romania
2007 Bunavestire, Financiar Platza Gallery, Bucharest, Romania
2006 Transvestire, Galeria Căminul Artei, București
2005 CO50D, Galeria Căminul Artei, Bucharest, Romania
2004 Anotimpurile, Galeria AnaidArt, Bucharest, Romania
2003 Starea Crucii, Galateea, Bucharest, Romania
2002 Schimbarea, Galeria Căminul Artei, Bucharest, Romania
2001 Facerea, part a 3 a, Galeria Căminul Artei, Bucharest, Romania
2000 Restaurarea Interiorului Românesc, Galeria Orizont, București
1999 Renașterea, Muzeul Satului, Bucharest, Romania
1998 Focul, National Museum of Art, Bucharest, Romania
1997 Casa, Galeria Simeza, Bucharest, Romania
1995-1996 Zidirea”, Galeriile J.L. Calderon, Bucharest, Romania
1995 Cărarea întâi, outdoor exhibiton, Pucioasa, Romania
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
2011 Glorie, Ateneo Veneto, Venice, Italy
2011 Bukarest-Dusseldorf, Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus-Deutsch-Osteuropaisches Forum, Germany
2011 Bekannte Flugobjekte, Meinersen, Germany
2010 L’ echalier- Pârleazu, Paris, France
2009 Rocca Paulina, Perugia, Italy
2009 2 R Art Gallery, London, Great Britain
2007 Anotimpurile Îngerilor, Galeria H O, Seoul, Korea
2007 Etno Art, ICR Paris, France
2000 Scara îngerilor, Galeria 49, New York, USA
2000 Scara îngerilor, ICR, New York, USA
1997 Expoziția de Artă Românească-Ludwik Forum, Aachen, Germany
1992 International Art Fair, Seville, Spain
1990 group exhibition, Bruxelles, Belgia
1987 International Youth Art, Ljubljana, Slovenia
NATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
2010 Let’s take a look – gucken wir mal (textile conversation), together with Marian Zidaru, Senta Connert, Ulrike Kessl and Julia van Koolwijk,
Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Bucharest, Romania
2009 Christian Breaths, Veorniki Art Gallery, Bucharest, Romania
1998 Object / Subject, special guests Ion Bițan, Ion Nicodim, Doru Covrig, Museum of Romanian Literature, Bucharest, Romania
AWARDS
2018 Sculpture Award of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania
1984 Scholarship for Creation of the Union of Visual Artists
