MATEI ARNĂUTU: GICU: Museum of Ages - Filipescu Cesianu House, Calea Victoriei 151, Bucharest

October 5 - 29, 2023 Anaid Art Gallery Bucharest

"It was 10 years ago that I first entered Gicu the mechanic's workshop. From the very first moment I was surprised. In the middle of the room, on a makeshift stand made out of leftover appliances, was an upside-down bicycle wheel. The image of Duchamp's wheel immediately came to my mind. Then I noticed certain details that made the difference between the two wheels. The mechanic explained to me that his wheel was actually a technical experiment, done in an attempt to get a perpetuum mobile, with the aim of generating free energy. I knew then that this is - scientifically proven - impossible. But the resemblance to Duchamp's work and the candour, inventiveness and humanity of the mechanic stuck in my mind. Apart from the surprise of the wheel, others followed as the mechanic introduced me to his inventions. I've wanted to photograph his studio ever since."

The exhibition project that will take place in the attic of the Filipescu Cesianu House is, in a certain sense, a continuation of the solo exhibition of 2022 entitled "Anonymous opus manuum artificis", that tooks place at Anaid Art Gallery; but this time the artist Matei Arnăutu documents the workshop of the mechanic G.S. (Gicu) nicknamed “The Carpathian Genius". Mechanic Gicu is trying to produce energy for free, which has led to two workshops over the last ten years crammed with objects, fragments of objects, tools, bearings, wheels, etc. all with the aim of eventually being used in the next utopian invention. The meeting between the artist Matei Arnăutu and the mechanic Gicu, nicknamed "The Carpathian Genius" by the locals, led to a photo session in the mechanic's workshop.