What is the best thing that I love about my work? I find myself in every piece of stone, to which I transfer sublime feelings. The elegance and hardness of my marble challenges me to discover its story.

What is my idea of happiness? Happiness for an artist represents spiritual fulfillment. Professionally speaking, I find happiness just looking in the eyes of people who appreciate my work. Even if it’s a buyer or it can’t afford my artwork. I am happy to see the joy in their eyes when looking at my artwork. From a personal point of view, my happiness will always lie in the arms of my loved one. 

What is my greatest fear? Simple. To disappoint the ones I love. 

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Artists have hard traits :)))

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? My father, Constantin Marinete. From the moment I opened my eyes I saw stones. I have been sculpting since I was 8 years old. Or even less. I had a great example in the back yard: my father. In my father’s workshop I learned my trade. 

Marinete Constantin | Matius’s BLOG (wordpress.com)

What is my greatest extravagance? Time. As an artist you need time: to dream, to create, to explore, to recreate, and so on. And time is for everyone the most valuable and non-regenerable resource. 

On what occasion would I lie? Why should I lie? I am as I am. Nothing more or less. Truth always sets us free, the same as our dreams. We don’t lie to our dreams.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? Sculpture is not really appreciated in our country, Romania. I could very easily do something else and it would have been much easier for me, but for me it’s all about the passion. I chose to make the sculpture and I can say that I am not sorry.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? Each day, each minute, each second I am happy when sculpting.

If I could, what would I change about myself? If I could change something about myself, it wouldn’t be me anymore. Why would I want to be someone else? Of course, I have my own flaws, as we all have. But each positive and negative aspect of our character defines us. Same as we artists could never create a truly flawless artwork. Even if the eyes of the beholder cannot see it. We see it 🙂 

What is my greatest achievement in work? Making my work people happy. See the joy in their eyes.

Where would I most like to live? In my workshop :)) Or, I dream about the south of Spain.

What is my most treasured possession? My memories working with my father, from whom I got talent and skills. 

What is my most marked characteristic? Interesting question. I guess the answer would be an anthology considering my physical aspect: the sensitivity. Same, how much sensitivity can there be in a piece of stone? As much as the artist can express. 

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? Definitely, my workshop. 

What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city? Home 🙂

What books influenced my life and how? I can’t say it influenced my life, but same as other people find themselfs in my work, I found myself in 2 great books. First book is called “John, damnation of land, damnation of love” , written by Romanian author Liviu Rebreanu. In the end, John, who made the most despicable things for land owning and money, admits: “what’s the use of land if the one you love is not yours?” . Another interesting book for me was Sun Tzu’s “Art of war”, an educational book about many perspectives of our life. Of course, the list of great books for me includes old and new books about sculpture, about art and history of Egypt, about Italian and Spanish art, and even about fishing, my favourite hobby.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day? Music/ sounds of nature and water.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Winged humans that I created. Of course, my journey in this project started with the story of Icarus, whom I carved him with great enthusiasm. 

Alexandru Marinete – Icarus feel

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? The woman I love.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?I especially enjoy watching history movies. Who doesn’t understand their past, can’t move forward. 

What role play stories in my life and work? I think that for each artist stories are inspiring. I learn from each sound and image around me. It all creates a story, from which I trust to inspire myself.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me? We are responsible for our own actions.

Which people or companies would I like to work with? Regarding the companies, I would very much like to collaborate with architecture or construction companies, in order to bring art into every home. I can’t name a specific company, but it would be a privilege for me to collaborate with a personality like Zaha Hadid, for example. Regarding people, any artist is welcome to collaborate with me, emerging, famous or unknown. We all should sustain ourselves and our values. Nonetheless, it would be an honour and a provocation for me to have an exhibition with artists like: Adrian Ghenie, Catinca Tabacaru, Misha Diaconu, Ali Al Jabri. If it had been possible, I would have said Peter Jecza or Constantin Brancusi, from whom I inspired many of my artworks. 

What project am I looking forward to working on? Big scale sculptures surely represent a goal project for me.  

Alexandru Marinete – Art commissions

Where can you see me or my work? You can visit me and see me working at my workshop Alexandru Marinete (Bucharest) – tripadvisor.com . My artworks, portfolio and art commissions can be easily found at https://www.marinete.art .

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? Once you understand the stone, the marble, it’s hard to stay away from it. Then, it is also the artist’s duty to society to give him something beautiful, that pleases the eye and the soul. I want my creations to captivate not only the eyes of a specialist but also the depth of the soul of a layman in art. I want to capture the lives and feelings of those who see my creations. The viewer can find himself in my works of art. Through the presence of my work, I wish to help people express their feelings.

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story? The professionals are named atin earlier question : Adrian Ghenie, Catinca Tabacaru, Misha Diaconu, Ali Al Jabri. Nonetheless, Zaha Hadid or Jecza Gallery professionals. 

How can you contact me? By email: art.marinete@gmail.com.