Weintrauben

This sculpture bears the simple title "Figure." The form is presented in a highly reduced manner. An upright, elongated head sits atop a curved torso. The head is geometrically simple, with its surface polished and coated with shellac to catch the viewer's eye. The body now exhibits various forms of treatment. One side has been sandblasted by Daniel Bucur and stained orange, highlighting the natural pattern. The other side has been sanded smooth, giving it a contrasting, unnatural, and heavily processed appearance compared to the back.

Aren't we all figures in the game of life? When do we show our natural side in society? With our closest friends, within the family circle? And how often do we contort ourselves to present a smooth surface to our fellow humans, far removed from reality? We force a smile, everything is perfect, and social media photos depict a life full of excitement and success.

With this sculpture, Daniel Bucur holds up a mirror to us humans. We decide which side we want to show.

The sculpture depicts a highly abstracted female torso with a head and two exaggeratedly long legs. The predetermined shape of the wooden piece gives the artist the freedom to distort physical attributes and focus on them according to his will.

The narrowing of the form creates the impression that this sculpture consists of an excess of limbs and is excessively mobile. Tension arises because it is not clear how stably the woman stands on her feet, and one can imagine the possibility that she is balancing on stilts.

The piece is made from a natural forked branch of a white beech, a very hard and durable type of wood. Daniel Bucur stained the surface orange and then added carved dots that expose the light wood underneath. This creates an exotic aura that reminds us of tribal art. Throughout human history, wood has always been used as a primary material for art objects, allowing the artist to draw from a rich repertoire that leads to intriguing associations: Africa, long-legged, giraffe.

Daniel Bucur's grandfather had a small cottage in the Romanian mountains. The artist spent carefree days there during his childhood. It was an old cottage, and its windows had a pink saw blade in the center for protection. These windows have left a strong impression on Daniel Bucur's memory. The saw blade provided a deeper sense of security that allowed him to sleep well at the end of the day.

In this sculpture, the artist used a block of maple wood and carved a stylized window and door into it using a saw blade motif. The surrounding wood has been exposed and sandblasted, creating a surface reminiscent of clay. The wall is symbolized by the untreated portions.

As part of his artistic journey, Daniel Bucur has taken a trip back to his childhood with this sculpture. The artwork aims to convey to the viewer the feeling of security and comfort that he associates with his stays at his grandfather's place.