Gates of Dawn

ARTIST STATEMENT

“I approach my work in a state of anticipation and adventure.  Each begins as an exploration into the unknown and involves a sense of risk-taking.   There is an attempt to convey emotion by expressing it in the metaphorical use of colour, line and textures.

In our individual journeys through time we are each influenced and transformed by the places, people and the events of our past. Memories, conscious or subliminal, permeate our thoughts and shape our journey into the future. With my paintings I strive to establish a sense of place, while exploiting the tension between figuration and abstraction to express energy and passion. The use of oils allows me to infuse the works with subtle variances in texture and values that to me are reflective of the nuances of meaning in life itself.

The creation of each work nourishes me with new ideas and discoveries – a springboard for future expression.  At a certain point in the process, as the images begin to speak to me, I realize that they have now taken on a distinct life of their own.  It is always my hope that upon completion they will speak to others as well.”

BIOGRAPHY

Iosif Derecichei was born in October 8, 1962 in Marghita, a small city in western Romania. As a child he felt that drawing was something natural and could sketch with ease anything he saw. He graduated from “Ion Andreescu” Art University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, with a Bachelor of Art degree. After the regime changed in Romania in 1989, it became possible for him to exhibit his paintings abroad. He started to collaborate with some galleries in Hungary having many exhibitions in Budapest, Debrecen and Keszthely. He presented his paintings mostly in Hungary and Romania, but also exhibited in Austria, Japan and the USA. He had a permanent collaboration with Koncz Gallery and Hungallery. Through them his artwork was presented in exhibitions in Western Europe, Japan and the USA. In 2004 he moved to Canada and had his first art show in Windsor, Ontario in June, 2005.