The retrospective of Marinela Măntescu-Isac's career, organized by WIN Gallery at the end of last year, brought to the public's attention a celebration of her decades of artistic exploration. The collection proposed for viewing opens a profound perspective into the artist's work, traversing genres from still life to landscape, portraits, or complex compositions. Through a distinctive visual language, Marinela Măntescu-Isac delves into the duality of existence, into the interplay between the transient and the immutable, where the nuances of humanity's emotional landscape are born. 

This perpetual search also develops in the direction of the tension between appearance and profound truths. The artist's works often reflect dichotomies such as that between mask and character, as we can distinguish in the series of paintings The Circus. The theme of these acts of entertainment, essentially a classical theme, is brought back to the public's attention, demonstrating the eternal nature of the idea of performance and the roles each of us plays, often contrasting with emotions kept within. This concern is not just a commentary on individual identity but can easily extend into a broader discussion about social norms and conventions, their purpose, and their impact on each of us. 

Her landscapes, such as Fall in Thassos or Shore with Poppies in Costinești, possess quasi-sensory properties, vibrations that bring to life the nature depicted in her paintings. The viewer can feel the sensation of wind on their skin or even hear the sound of leaves through the visual interpretation of dynamic brushstrokes and chromatic harmonies. These works go beyond representation through their effect, evoking immersive experiences where illustrated time and space open up to be re-lived. 

Regarding still life compositions, both in paintings like Still Life with Lilies, Pendulum and Oyster and Still Life with Chrysanthemums and Quince, the artist's ability to transform ordinary objects into meditative themes is highlighted. Such paintings are not merely aesthetic arrangements but rather symbolic explorations of temporality, beauty, and even decay. Through her technique, Marinela Măntescu-Isac transcends the physical aspects of objects by rendering them in tonal harmonies. 

The artist's technical virtuosity emerges from her numerous works. Bold brushstrokes and a vibrant palette create movement and give an impression of vitality, her paintings thus become animated works. As art critic Doina Păuleanu observes, Marinela Măntescu-Isac's brushstrokes often seem to extend beyond the limits of the canvas itself, suggesting an infinite continuation of her works beyond their physical edges. 

In this same vein, aspects related to her use of color are noteworthy. Whether we speak about landscapes like Delta or still lifes like Still Life with Turkish Objects, the chromatic harmonies employed elevate subjects from representation to poetic abstraction. Colors are used not only descriptively but participatively, shaping the emotional tone and narrative structures of each painting. 

In some works like Nighttime, the artist resorts to a more subdued palette that evokes introspection and mystery. In this case, acrylic colors have a luminosity that contrasts with the darker undertones of the composition. The interaction between light and shadow further reflects her interest in dualities such as those between reality and dream or clarity and ambiguity. 

Corneliu Ostahie also observes that Marinela Măntescu-Isac's works are not aesthetic exercises but visual philosophies that challenge viewers to reconsider their perception of reality. For example, in Fall in Târgu Jiu – Floral Composition, familiar elements are transformed into symbolic gestures that invite contemplation on themes such as change or memory. 

Thus, Marinela Măntescu-Isac's retrospective at WIN Gallery is more than an exhibition, it is an invitation on a journey through human emotions' landscape, imagination, and collective memory. Her paintings are not static images but living dialogues between artist and viewer, tradition and innovation, dream and reality. Through profound knowledge of form, color, and symbols, she reminds us that art is not just about representation but about transformation. Each painting opens up as a space where the ephemeral meets the eternal—a testament to a renewed Cartesian creed: "I paint - therefore I am." The retrospective is thus both a celebration of past achievements and a beacon for future explorations into art's transformative potential. 

Ph.D. Researcher Andrei FĂȘIE