When did you start to be interested in art? Why did you choose to draw?

I was 19 years old when I began to feel interest about art. I was in college, I had just finished high-school. What I liked most about art was colour. I liked the way colours combine and flow on different surfaces and this was when I decided that I wanted to try play with colour.

Do you remember your first artwork, what was it like?

I remember my first work very well…as a matter of fact I still have it… it hangs on one of the walls of my home. It was an artwork that imitated stained glass.

What are your favourite topics and why? Is there anything you would not depict? What are your favourite topics and why? Is there anything you would not depict?

At present, I am interested in the social themes because they offer rich material, they are endless and actual at the same time, what I like to do most is expressionistic representations…I am not keen on morbid subjects or the aesthetic of the ugly.

How education has influenced your creativity and changed your professional way?

I don’t think that an artist can be a top artist without a basic education, without reading literature or history or other subjects. All these things are part of the world culture and I believe that in order to do a good job one has to know theoretical notions besides practice. I read whenever I have time.

From which authors do you get inspiration?

I cannot say I get inspiration from one artist or another but I very much like Miro, Klimt.

What, do you think is the place of visual arts in today's life? Do you think art can influence the public life?

We live in a society of information and of visual arts (TV, cameras, performances, installations). The art develops every day. People cannot live without looking at TV or taking photos…not to mention the powerful impact of 3D. What I have always noticed is that people prefer movement to steadiness. They no longer have the time or the patience to stay for hours in front of a work of art and admire it or analyze it. Probably in the future the classic painting (colour applied on canvas/material) will no longer have the same impact upon its viewers.

Do you think that nationality has its place in art?

Honestly, I don’t believe that it has any importance where one lives, what race one is. Unfortunately, some people try to make you believe that these things matter. I believe in a global world, for me art has no boundaries as long as it expresses your inner self.

Which books are you reading lately?

The most recent one is Dostoievski’s Idiot…in fact it was a rereading of the book. I like two read one book several times in order to grasp its meaning.

Are there any projects you are working on at the moment?

I am always working at something. I don’t like very long breaks. Now I’m working at a new exposition called “Victims and dictators”.

How do you see your future?

The general disinterest of people in relation to art as a profession, or to culture leads to the altering of the cultural act because the artist is forced to make lots of compromises in order to survive. That scares me…I hope I won’t make too many. Also, I hope God keeps me healthy to be able to continue my work.

Would you say in one sentence what is the art for you?

For me art is a way of life…in one word art is knowledge.