38. Flight [1991]

In Stefan Câlția's paintings, there is a world that finds its predilection for elasticity and exacerbated freedom, sliding into a carnivalesque space where characters intertwine with nature and animals in their own cosmic chaos. The images proposed by Câlția are stopping places, where you wait, watching the unfolding of events. The convoy of travelers is guided by a chosen being that opens the way to an endless world. The painter was and is the creator of the world spread on the canvas, and his universe depends on the human element. “These are not comebacks, but things that are constantly inside me. I reopen the story just like when you have a book on the table and you feel the need to keep coming back to it.”, the artist said about his fairytale world. His entire universe is an initiatory journey, amplifying the hunt for knowledge. Guided by Julius Podlipny, and then by Corneliu Baba, Stefan Câlția surpasses the trivial representation of the world, and aims to meticulously represent his own universe, detached from local folklore. With the veracity of a poet, his creation springs from himself, expressing a concise interpretation of the dream in relation to reality. The chronology of a painting tells us that it must first draw inspiration from reality, fervently absorb the elements, and then, through an alchemical process, give them shape on the canvas. Through his work, Stefan Câlția becomes the savior of worlds that are lost as time goes by. In the artwork at hand, "Flight", which is part of a broader cycle of works dedicated to flight, centered on the bird, Stefan Câlția presents the mystery of flight in the open sky. In this framework, flight could mean the liberation from any tutelage, the bird floating, seemingly inert in an all-encompassing space. The bird is on a dreamlike journey, hovering over an autumn forest. The creature, which becomes the protagonist of the work, is isolated in its astral trajectory. The color palette highlights the feeling of loneliness conveyed by the image, with a dominant background, using shades of yellow, ochre, black, brown, and red, which are meant to add depth to the solemn setting.

References

GHEORGHE, Cosma, Culture Exhibition, Art Museum, Bucharest, 1980 Catalogue of the Group Exhibition "Art of Portraiture" at the Apollo Gallery, Bucharest, 1972

Dimensions

width 54 cm, height 48 cm

Description

oil on cardboard, signed and dated in the upper center, in yellow, in monogram, "Câlția, 1991"

Dating

1991

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.

For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.