My new body of work consists of 3-dimensional paintings. In a world dominated by printed and electronic media where images are two-dimensional, I needed a way to bring my paintings into a three-dimensional context where the shapes and images can be touched, while the picture plane is maintained. The sculptural shapes of this body of work are made using resins, light-weight materials, and special-effect pigments that create a liquid-metal appearance due to their capacity to reflect and refract light. This enhances and emphasizes the three-dimensional aspect of the paintings.

In my paintings, the visual repetition of the pattern addresses the addictive use and dependence on electronic devices: pressing buttons of remote controls to cell phones, in repetitive, almost ritualistic movements. The visual patterns echo the obsessive physical repetition of motion.

The tactile perception of the paintings, due to the three-dimensional quality, can sometimes overwhelm and compete with the pure visual impact. Viewers are instantly attracted to directly interact with the surface, as they might interact with other objects in their lives. My paintings are a tactile map of our fast-changing society, opposing to the ephemeral experience and events, keeping the visual information embedded in painted relief.

--Ioan Florea