In a perpetual state of evolution, my artistic practice thrives on experimentation, traversing diverse techniques while consistently grappling with recurring themes that linger in my consciousness. Themes such as self-awareness, the boundaries of the body and mind, and the perpetual journey of discovery captivate my thoughts. Like an irresistible gravitational force, the abyss of meditation and self-inquiry absorbs my attention, sparking fascination and drawing me within its depths.
Themes:
My exploration extends beyond the confines of the self to encompass the intricate relationship between individuals and their environments. Observing how surroundings influence us and, conversely, our impact on them fuels my artistic inquiry. Nature, the ultimate masterpiece, has been my most excellent teacher, offering profound life lessons. It is an unending source of inspiration, content, and materials—a timeless entity, simultaneously perfect in its imperfections, perpetually supportive, and in constant flux, much like the wabi-sabi essence of the present moment.
Methodologies:
My conceptual approach is reflexive, akin to making an idea observe itself—a process resembling the merging of Escher's intricate designs, where the beginning and end intertwine. This reflective process manifests in techniques such as printing paper on paper and creating a spiral narrative that echoes the essence of my artistic journey.
My methodology is intuitive and spontaneous, with ideas demanding immediate realization. I instantly uncover inspiration in spaces, forging between seemingly disparate elements and connections bet. Self-inquiry, facilitated by meditation, acts as a grounding force, minimizing distractions and fostering a focused creative exploration.
Techniques:
My artistic repertoire spans various techniques, each chosen deliberately to echo the thematic resonance of reflection:
Printmaking (sun printing, etching, linocut, experimental printing)
Painting
Collage
Sculpture
Space manipulation
My Artistic Scope:
As a romantic, I am driven by an intrinsic desire to showcase the world through my unique lens. My purpose extends beyond visual representation to reveal very intimate and raw feelings, emotions, thoughts, and glimpses of ideas. As one can see in my work, the sketchbooks and first-hand pieces of information, shaped by spontaneous strikes of inspiration or momentary creative impulses, represent a significant percentage of my artistic contribution. I aim to reveal and awaken in others the beauty inherent in everyday life, fostering experiential connections with the profound. Through my work, I aspire to unveil the hidden poetry within our nature, highlighting the beauty that persists even amid the complexities of existence.
Amid artistic expression, I find an indescribable joy, satisfaction, and completeness that words fail to capture. My passion for creating is akin to a blazing fire, and through my art, I strive to convey the profound depth of my emotions and perspectives to the world.
Group show Rome International Art Fair, Rome, Italy, May 2025
Group show, Tulika Art Gallery, Mumbai, India, May 2024
Hello, World!, Anexa Antistatic, Bucharest, November 2018 (Organiser, curator, artist)
Antistatic on Eminescu, Lokal with Galeria Mobila, Bucharest, October 2018 (organiser, curator, artist)
Direct Art Action Central in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, UK, March 2018
Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham, UK, April 2018
Assemblage, IPS space, Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham, UK, February 2018
Pózno at CPK Building, Szczecin, Poland, December 2017
Konfrotacje at Klub Storrady, Szczecin, Poland, December 2017
MA group show Upstairs/Downstairs at CET building, Coventry, UK, December 2017
Stomach – 3rd edition, Hoxton Arches Gallery, London, UK, December 2017
Amural Illustration at Centrul Multicultural Transilvania, Brasov, August - September 2017
Apollo 111, Bucharest, July 2017
Diploma exhibition, at National University of Arts, Bucharest, July 2017
Directions at Unagaleria, Bucharest, June 2017
Obecnosci at Kunstverein Murnau e.V. Galerie, Murnau, Germany, 2017
Intro
I grew up in Bucharest, Romania, where I attended a mathematical high school and finished it with an excellent degree. followed by graduate study at UNARTE, `Bucharest, Romania, an erasmus exchange programme at Akademia Sztuki w szczecinie, szczecin, Poland. This was just the beginning of my journey. I then pursued graduate study at UNARTE, Bucharest, Romania, and participated in an Erasmus exchange programme at Akademia Sztuki w Szczecinie, Szczecin, Poland. But my thirst for exploration led me to Berlin every weekend to immerse myself in the contemporary art scene. I graduated with a maximum degree and continued my adventure by following the M.A. programme at Birmingham City University in Fine Arts, UK.
Antistatic
right after finishing the postgraduate programme, I returned to Bucharest, Romania, where, together with a group of artists and friends, I started the NGO Asociatia Antistatic (link: https://antistaticasociatia.wordpress.com) to bring the contemporary art scene closer to people, make it more accessible and integrating various social groups which wouldn’t have the chance to engage with contemporary art. We successfully developed several projects, gathering sponsorships and external funding from cultural organisations. I was an exhibiting artist, project development and curator in the association.
India, travelling and volunteering.
In 2020, right before the lockdown, I left for Rishikesh, India, for a yoga teacher training programme. Little did I know that the lockdown would keep me there. But instead of feeling trapped, I saw it as an opportunity to delve deeper into my passions. I wrote a book of poetry ( link: https://anaolar.squarespace.com/#/the-book-of-love-the-love-poems-of-corona/) and continued my yogic and Eastern philosophy studies, showing resilience in the face of adversity.
In the summer of 2020, I decided to take some volunteering opportunities, as our normal functioning of the NGO couldn’t continue to return to the EU due to lockdown and adjacent circumstances.
Following the summer of 2020, I seized the opportunity to volunteer as a yoga instructor and mural painting artist in various locations in Spain, Tenerife, south France, and Greece. These experiences allowed me to share my passion for yoga and art with diverse communities, including retreat centres, hostels, and campsites. The impact of these volunteer experiences was profound, both for the communities I served and for my personal and professional growth. In February 2022, I decided to return to India to continue my learning journey.
Coming home
Three years more spent in India, in Rishikesh, Dharamshala, south India and living in various ashrams throughout the country, time in which I continued my cultural and philosophical research, took meditation courses like Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist traditional painting courses - thangka painting, in Dharamshala, the living place of Dalai Lama. meanwhile, I developed a clothing brand with local hemp fabrics and with traditional linocut print and local plants print in adapted linocut technique (link: https://www.instagram.com/nadi.naga/). At the same time, I started researching for my doctoral thesis (link: https://anaolar.squarespace.com/#/misselfi/)
In January 2025, I considered my travel to India complete and returned to Romania for studio work. At the current moment, I am relocated in Venice, as I am undertaking a course in Curatorial Practice with A plus A Gallery, during the Venice Biennale of Architecture, 2025
2017-2018 - M.A. Fine Arts, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
2016-2017 - Erasmus+ Exchange Programme – Akademia Sztuki w Szczecinie, Szczecin, Poland
2014-2017 - B.A. Traditional Graphics, National University of Arts Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania