Can you combine the old and the new and get something fresh?
Andreea Fasie’s debut exhibition, “New Retro Waves” proves that yes, you most
certainly can.
The “New Retro Waves” exhibition took place on Friday, 8th
November 2019, at the Vandy Alchemy Coffee Shop in Cluj-Napoca.
Andreea Fasie discovered her passion for art and music during her childhood, which is when
she started taking violin lessons. Later on, she choose to study at the
University of Art and Design Cluj, where she majored in digital art. The New
Retro Waves exhibition gave her a chance to combine her two childhood passions
– music and art- in a new, fun and fresh way.
The tone of the exhibition was eclectic and playful, the
visitors could contemplate the artworks hung up on the coffee shop’s walls
while sipping hot drinks and listening to music, curtsey of the many live music
acts that played out during the event. An ‘80s themed trivia quiz complemented
the artworks. Also, visitors got a chance to participate in a lottery, where
the winner was given a mini-masterclass by the head barista on how to brew
coffee. The overall feel was relaxed and cozy, and the visitors’ positive and enthusiastic
feedback made the event a success.
The artworks presented embodied the feel and look of the ‘80s decade, while also showing strong
influences from Pop Art and Synthwave. To get the look of the 80s in a current
way, the artist used digital software programs
like Krita and Photoshop, which she favored because of the calculated
but still dynamic effect it has on the finish product. Big and small spots of
color, neon tones and day to day urban scenes are a few of the artist’s
creative signature presented in her works.
One of the exhibition’s key artworks represents a girl
sitting on her bed against a neon pink
backdrop. The focus on the girl as the central figure is achieved by the
different brushstrokes used: the girl
and the bed are soft, clean, with a high attention to detail, while the pink
backdrop presents scribbles almost like a marker - quick, chaotic and impulsive. The combination of those
brushstrokes give the work an unfinished look, while also focusing on the girl
as she is captivated by the ordinary objects laying around her- a brush, a
lotion bottle and some hair ties. The works manages to capture that mental
pause one takes before getting ready to step out.
Visible brushworks are also seen on the portrait of a woman,
hung near the coffee shop’s menu. The woman’s facial expressions are of approve
and contempt, perhaps a nod to the visitor’s choice of beverage, with her lips
parted ever so slightly. The portrait is done in a warm color palette, with
hues of golden, pink and warm brown. Again, the brushstrokes play out the
majority of the artwork, providing texture and depth to the woman’s hair,
surrounding her face. The portrait is being framed by smokey shadows, giving
the general feeling of mystery.
In the end, “New Retro Waves” was a sounding success. Based
on the public’s high praises and enthusiastic feedback, artist Andreea Fasie
earned her spot on the Cluj art scene as the new up and coming talent worth
checking out.
