The Art Museum exhibits a new work in the Mercy Gallery, “Presentation of the Bride/Prezentarea miresei” by Belu Simion Făinaru

From 17.11.2022 Mercy Gallery, part of the MNART Open View project, puts in the spotlight a work “Presentation of the Bride/Prezentarea miresei” by artist Belu Simion Făinaru, to create the bridge between the exterior and interior of the exhibition organized by the artist during this period.

From the very beginning of his career, the artist uses the cultural heritage and symbolism of the Mosaic religion, whose millenary traditions represent a vast source of inspiration for the artist. Belu Simion Făinaru seeks to materialize certain transcendental notions such as “Light” and “Identity”, transposing them into the physical world. Another very important aspect of the artist’s creation is the examination of social issues and the exploration of the relationship between art and marginalized members of society.

Returning to the subject of light, we can also talk about the work “Presentation of the Bride/Prezentarea miresei”, an object that reminds us of a white wedding dress, animated from within by the light of divine passion. This light radiates desire and ecstasy, touching on the relationship between sensuality and divinity, embodied by the ‘Bride of God’.

“Like the ready-made object placed in a Baroque space, the theme of the work is an echo of one of the masterpieces of the Counter-Reformation, namely “The Ecstasy of St. Teresa” by the genius Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which celebrates the union between passion and spiritual dimension”, museographer Alexandru Babusceac.

Belu Simion Făinaru transposes signs from another sphere of existence, offering this work on the altar of the simeza as an offering like a parent who “offers” his daughter to her future husband, an idea suggested by the title of the work that refers to this ancient ritual, and the witnesses of this gesture are all of us.

We would like to thank the collector Mihai Pop for the generous loan, Mrs. Ileana Pintilie-Teleagă, the curator of the exhibition, the artist Belu Simion Făinaru and last but not least the team of the National Art Museum Timișoara.