SERBAN IONESCU: LISI

NANZUKA presents Lisi in Asia by Romanian-born artist Serban Ionescu, who has studios in New York and Belgium at NANZUKA 2G.

June 7 - July 7, 2024

Serban Ionescu, born in Romania in 1984, is an artist whose works span sculpture, painting, design, and architecture. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute and served as an adjunct professor in the architecture department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 2010 to 2016.

Drawing on his extensive experience and achievements, he continues to produce a wide range of works. Ionescu has previously held solo exhibitions at R & Company and Larrie Gallery in New York and at Everyday Gallery in Antwerp, Belgium.

Known for his outdoor sculptures, Ionescu's distinctive lines are the result of intensive drawing practice, characterized by vibrant colors and cartoon-like gestures. His large-scale steel and aluminum structures, such as "Chapel For An Apple," "Tower For An Hour," and "Smokey," represent his return to post-architecture.

The exhibition title "Lisi" refers to a new character series born from drawings Ionescu created with his young daughter. Lisi appears in isolated environments and transformations within the abstract world of daydreams and boundless actions.

The bold and colorful frames, a hallmark of Ionescu's work, transform paintings into wall sculptures and serve as "houses" to shelter Lisi. These frames structure and contrast Lisi's shy, spontaneous appearances, highlighting the intersection of impulsive painting and meticulously constructed sculptures—an interplay between dream and reality.