The Beginning of Christianity Painting

Ioan Popei was born in Agapia, Neamt county, Romania, on July 15th, 1954. His first exhibition was in Piatra Neamt in 1985. His religious icons were very well received abroad also, in France, Holland, UK, Belgium and Australia. As every other mystery, Popei's one is simple: faith and a leaning towards the depth of the being, there where the limitless creative powers come from. Ioan Popei does not paint icons, he prays. Ioan Popei is a free artist! About Ioan's oil paintings: "As for panel painting,the painter Ioan Popei uses the therapeutical quality of colors, irrespective of the chosen themes.The artist makes me think that probably he himself is charmed by his own paintings" The art critic and Counsellor of the Department of Culture and Art of Piatra Neamt, - Professor Lucian Strochi - I have tried, and I always try to perfect myself in plastic art. but my interest in everything I created was to impress my obsession with painting ... so I often changed my ideas about what plastic creation means. So I approached many techniques and styles with the hope that I will be pleased. Now I have simplified almost everything, stopping me from the idea that a painting has to provoke a state. So my works have become very minimalist. At this time cosider that painting must be "healing"! ... that is the therapeutics. -Ioan Popei