Vitalie Butescu showcased works on heritage and spirituality at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History
Vitalie Butescu, an artist who initially trained in Chișinău and later at the Academy of Art in Cluj, is more recognized and appreciated internationally than in his home country. He returned home to present the exhibition "Heritage and Spirituality." This event, held at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, provided the public with an opportunity to explore his artistic universe.
Butescu presents a series of works in Chișinău that are inspired by the architectural heritage and memories of various places, including the castle of Queen Maria in Balchik, Bulgaria.
"I have not stayed in this place even once, neither in the evening nor in the morning. It is here that I painted during the evenings. I have lived in Romania for 30 years; of course, these are the places that resonate with me the most. However, I will never forget Venice, Paris, or London. Butuceni holds a special place in my heart as I have many friends in Moldova. I was invited to a camp in Butuceni, where I painted with love," said the artist Vitalie Butescu.
Artist Vasile Sitari shared, "We grew up in the '90s doing summer practice together with Vitalie. He knows these places very well, and these two works are, in fact, pillars of our culture—what we refer to as our Romanian and Moldovan gates and houses."
The painter reinterprets architectural monuments in a lyrical style, emphasizing chromatic harmony.
"Vitalie Butescu is our Basarabian artist who left 30 years ago. Now, he returns with a series of significant works featuring vernacular architecture and castles in Romania, Balchik, Bulgaria, and many other countries. He travels the world, and we want visitors here to admire his work and get to know him, as he is a master," said plastic artist Ala Leancă.
"Vitalie Butescu is among the few artists who paint en plein air, and this direct communication between the artist and nature yields remarkable results. The artworks themselves gain soul and life; they portray stone edifices," added Vasile Sitari.
The late art historian Alexandru Măciucă characterized Vitalie Butescu as one of the most valuable contemporary Romanian painters, noting his unique body of work and expression in today's artistic context.
"This work is not just for Saturdays or Sundays; it is what I do every day. I spend my time painting in the studio or on work trips for documentation," confessed Vitalie Butescu.
"I believe this is one of the most beautiful art exhibitions organized in this museum gallery. It offers the public in Chișinău a chance to see his works, which beautifully combine color, light, and elements of Romania's built heritage," declared Petru Vicol, the director of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History.
Vitalie Butescu recently held a personal exhibition at the Palace of Parliament Hall in Bucharest. He will also be presenting a collection of works titled "Kaleidoscope" in Buzău on May 7.
