Radu Baies

About
Radu Baies, (1988, Cluj, Romania) is interested in topics and imagery that he recurrently approaches, as if trying to constantly find new possible, lyrical and metaphorical readings of simple, familiar fragments of reality. His painterly depictions of humble landscape elements, like trees or sheep on hill slopes, as well as the still lives in which he depicts, again and again, the same worn down couch are poignant reminders of the transfigurative and aesthetic power of painting. They compellingly demonstrate its ability to make one notice and even become fascinated by the commonplace reality that wouldn’t, in itself, be considered worthy of one’s attention. Băieş rhetorically emphasizes this transformational force of painting, its magic-like power by the use of gesturally rendered backgrounds or dream-like, almost fantastic lighting of the landscapes. Corroborated with a dignified atmosphere, these expressive instruments give most of his works an uncanny quality, a Baroque sense of dramatic scenography and a sort of metaphorical dignity, not entirely alien to a Symbolist mindset (text by Bogdan Iacob).

He holds a BA and MA in painting from the University of Art and Design in Cluj and is currently a PhD student there. Băieș has participated in numerous residencies, including the Telegraph Gallery in Olomouc (2020) and the Budapest Art Factory (2017). His solo exhibitions include “Retacing Identity” at The H Gallery, Bucharest (2022) and “Searching for my human traces” at Telegraph Gallery, Olomouc (2021). He has also been part of notable group exhibitions, such as “HINTERLAND” at Cromwell Place, London (2023) and “MEN: MALE BODY IN THE COLLECTION OF ROBERT RUNTAK” at CESKE GALERIE, Czech Republic (2022).