Adrian Panaitisor

Mixed Media

SDED-XXX (7/28/2020)
Acrylic on two overlapping canvases over plywood
34 x 27 x 1.5 in (86 x 68.5 x 4 cm)
This is one of the additional SDED [a clever, I think, spelling of 2D-3D] works that are about 95% ready for prime-time. There is no such a thing as 100% ready, but a line in the sand has to be drawn and, now, SDED-XXX is fit enough to be shared with the world. The flat surface travels from the upper canvas to the lower one to shortly become a three dimensional element in the middle. Additional details connecting the two canvases are barcodes reading "Love" and "Sex" that flank three large letters "X," which are common symbols for pornographic material, Roman numeral for 30 or three strikes in a row among many others. The red background for both canvases also works as a binding ingredient tying them together as a whole to only be divided by an orange stripe for a smoother transition to and from red.

Mixed Media

SDED-XXII (3/7/2020)
Acrylic on two overlapping canvases over plywood
36 x 24 x 1 5/8 in (91 x 61 x 4 cm)
It's been over six months since this art idea sprang, and today the baby is mature enough to face public and peer criticism! Like the others in the series, the painting continues to push the limit of the artistic philosophy of Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana. The painting's yellow ribbon connects the upper and the lower planes to briefly become three dimensional. In the center, the circular opening (a believable fake 3D element) plays a similar 2D–3D game with support from the narrow red band. Since many new paintings are mostly ready, I plan to post weekly additional new and creative ways where layers build 3D spaces smoothing the transition between the two and three dimensions.

Mixed Media

SDED-XX, 2/29/2020
Acrylic on canvas over plywood
36 x 24 x 5/6 in (91 x 61 x 2 cm)
It's been a while since I posted a picture of any of my paintings... Ideas do not stop coming but choosing one to produce becomes a serious project that it's worth taking time to match it with the one in your head...
SDED-XX, like the others in the SDED [=2D3D] series, continues to push the limit of the artistic philosophy of two amazing Italian artists: Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana. The middle ribbon “magically” becomes 3D playfully switching colors and quietly going back to a 2D state. The other fake 3D suggestions are serving the role of making the twisted middle layer be easily accepted. Although, 3–2=1 as the arithmetic would suggest, the gap between two and three dimensions is not one dimension, is 2D [where 2D+2D+... =3D] and layers become the perfect solution! Therefore, in the months to come, I will continue to enjoy showing new and creative ways where the canvas layers build a three dimensional space without eliminating or destroying their classical flat quality.

Mixed Media

SDED-10 (102419), 2019. Acrylic on canvas over cardboard 24 x 18 in (61 x 46 cm)
It's been two months almost to the day since I finished the last piece... Higher powers intervened, and I am back on track, adjusting and correcting. It was a period at the end of August when this canvas was unanimously selected to be discarded as trash. One day, I had a cup of coffee and, like always when caffeine gets strongly involved in one's life, the piece appeared to still possess a future and, without a second thought, I simply acted on it, giving my canvas the second chance it was looking for. So, yes, it's true, there-are-no-mistakes-in-art theory was tested, and it's still valid.
The piece, like all the others in the SDED series, is trying to take to the next level the artistic philosophy of Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana, whose approach to the flat surface makes a lot of sense thus when merged together, the Bonalumi's space can physically generate three dimensions just by using Fontana's solution to "open up space," in which case the flat art piece can escape the two dimension trap. The logic behind this line of action is that in order to build a three dimensional space you need 2-D elements or the 3-D doesn't happen, in which case layers become the perfect solution!

Mixed Media

SDED-9, 08/25/2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 32 x 24 x 1.5 in ( 81x 61 x 3 cm).
Number 9 [a personal favorite] of my SDED/Porture series came out of nowhere (a thought, a sketch, few scraps of plywood later...) the product of a good night sleep (or a good nightmare?... we'll see). The 3D element is born out of the surface of the canvas and it's, so far, the easiest and most logical solution to my 2D to 3D challenge. This piece was created to be many symbols... of contemporary issues, if you are aware of these issues.

Mixed Media

SDED-8 (08/15/2019)
Acrylic on canvas over cardboard,
20 x 16 in (51 x 41 cm).
Number 8 of my SDED/Porture series was signed today (meaning that I will not touch it again even if the urge to improve it will direct me otherwise!). Few scraps of canvas and half of the energy between the sun and the moon later, and SDED #8 was born... prematurely at the age of 63! The 3D element is coming out of the original flat surface of the canvas and is complimented by a translucent layer of color, mimicking a third dimension. I love this piece although, at first, the original canvas was about to be thrown away but the god of canvases decided otherwise, and I am merely a tool in his hands!

Mixed Media

SDED-7, 08/14/2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 24 x 20 in (61 x 51 cm).
Today, number 7 of my SDED/Porture series was just finished. Finished is a loose term (they are never finished, but I have to draw the line somewhere, and today is as good as any). The Richie Norton simplicity thing went out the window: it was so much to say! I felt that my 2D/3D slice needed a story... and it became a short novel! The dynamic between the two to three dimensions is again enhanced with trompe l'oeil sections in order to make the transition both easier and intriguing in order to finish the story. The 3D element is born out of the original flat surface of the canvas and is adorned with a fake third dimension.

Mixed Media

SDED-4, 08/02/2019.
Acrylic on canvas, octagon, side 11 in [26.5 x 26.5 in (67.3 x 67.3 cm)] Another piece of my SDED / Porture series that drastically evolved since it was started in January of 2019.
The dynamic between the two to three dimensions is enhanced with trompe l'oeil sections in order to make the transition both easier and intriguing, worth spending time to look at it. The 3D is born out of the original flat surface of the canvas and is adorned with a fake third dimension. The octagon shape canvas was generous enough to accommodate circles and triangles bringing me back to when I learned that "Simplicity is complex. It's never simple to keep things simple. Simple solutions require the most advanced thinking." (Richie Norton)

Mixed Media

Porture (BRC) - 72419, 2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 24 x 20 x 3 in (61 x 51 x 7.5 cm)
Another piece of my SDED / Porture series exploring the combined artistic philosophies of Lucio Fontana (open-up-space solution) and Agostino Bonalumi (relief approach to the flat surface)—a fontalumi gesture—that can create a smooth approach to a three dimensional painting!...

Mixed Media

SDED-3, 07/06/2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 24 x 20 x 1/4 in (61 x 51 x 0.6 cm)
Here's another piece ready for your viewing enjoyment—when working simultaneously on about 20 works, the time when they can truly be consider ready changes often.
The piece, like all the others in the series, is trying to take to the next level the artistic philosophy of Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana, whose approach to the flat surface makes a lot of sense thus when merged together, the Bonalumi's space can physically generate three dimensions just by using Fontana's solution to "open up space," in which case the flat art piece can escape the two dimensional trap. The logic behind this line of action is that in order to build a three dimensional space you need 2-D elements or the 3-D doesn't happen, and layers become the perfect solution!

Mixed Media

SDED-5, 07/03/2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 24 x18 in (61 x46 cm)
The next piece ready for display [(by virtue of being shown today; working simultaneously on about 20 works can change the time when they can truly be considered ready for the prying eyes of the artist-critic artists out there!) has to be shared before I get this irrational urge to "improve" it!...] is among my favorite works. Maybe because is pink?... The piece, like all the others in the series, is trying to take to the next level the artistic philosophy of Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana, whose approach to the flat surface makes a lot of sense thus when merged together, the Bonalumi's space can physically generate three dimensions just by using Fontana's solution to "open up space," in which case the flat art piece can escape the two dimensional trap. The logic behind this line of action is that in order to build a three dimensional space you need 2-D elements or the 3-D doesn't happen, and layers become the perfect solution!

Mixed Media

Porture (Gold Face) 07/01/2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 24 x 20 x 1/2 in (61 x 51 x 1.3 cm)
Portion of this piece (the center) started my SDED / Porture series, and it was made around 2000 when, unaware of Bonalumi's (or Fontana's) work, I wondered why the canvas, the support of paint for the traditional painting, receives such a disproportionate attention, and I tried to correct that by embossing objects into the canvas and holding the emerged shape... Years later, I learned about the artistic philosophy of the two great Italian artists, and I realized that, combined, the Bonalumi's 3D approach, and the Fontana's open-up-space solution—a fontalumi gesture—can create a smooth approach to a three dimensional painting!...

Mixed Media

Porture-63019, 2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 24 x 20 in (61 x 51 cm)
Another piece that is combining Bonalumi's 3D approach using Fontana's open-up-space solution; a personal favorite for the repetitive fontalumi gesture!
Although, in theory, I understand the difficulty of showing 3D work in pictures, I am certainly falling for the hundred year old trap of assuming that this showing of the 3D work is somewhat a true representation of the real thing!...

Mixed Media

SDED-1, 06/28/2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 18 x 24 in (46 x 61 cm)
This is the next work of the series that, very ambitiously, is trying to take to the next level the artistic philosophy of two great Italian artists, Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana, whose approach to the flat surface makes a lot of sense thus when merged together, the Bonalumi's space can physically generate three dimensions just by using Fontana's solution to "open up space," in which case the flat art piece can escape the two dimensional trap. The logic behind this line of action is that in order to build a three dimensional space you need 2-D elements or the 3-D doesn't happen.
This particular piece is the very first of the series... where I applied the famous "KISS" (keep it simple, stupid) precept! [Working simultaneously on 20 works can change the time when they can truly be considered ready for showing!]
Although, in theory, I understand the difficulty of showing 3D work in pictures, I am certainly falling for the hundred year old trap of assuming that this showing of the 3D work is somewhat a true representation of the real thing!...

Mixed Media

SDED-00, 06/17/2019.
Acrylic on canvas over plywood, 24 x 20 x 2 in (61 x 51 x 5 cm)
SDED-61719 is the next work of the series that, very ambitiously, is trying to take to the next level the artistic philosophy of two great Italian artists, Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana, whose approach to the flat surface makes a lot of sense thus when merged together, Bonalumi's space can physically generate three dimensions just by using Fontana's solution to "open up space," in which case the flat art piece can escape the two dimensional trap. The logic behind this line of action is that in order to build a three dimensional space you need 2-D elements or the 3-D doesn't happen. In theory, this perspective is doable but it triggers an inevitable amount of planning that is necessary for the piece to be completed. Who knew that a little science and a drop of engineering can help solve an artistic dilemma?!

Mixed Media

Layer T, 2019.
Acrylic and transparent plastic tube on canvas,
24 x 20 x 1 1/4 inches (61 x 51 x 3 cm)
Layer T is the first of a series of works that, very ambitiously, is trying to take to the next level the artistic philosophy of two great Italian artists, Agostino Bonalumi and Lucio Fontana, whose approach to the flat surface makes a lot of sense thus when merged together, Bonalumi's space can physically generate three dimensions just by using Fontana's solution to "open up space," in which case the flat art piece can escape the two dimensional trap. The logic behind this line of action is that in order to build a three dimensional space you need 2-D elements or the 3-D doesn't happen. In theory, this perspective is doable but it triggers an inevitable amount of planning that is necessary for the piece to be completed. Who knew that a little science and a drop of engineering can help solve an artistic dilemma?!...