My mum is a painter. She went to an art high school in Romania. There were quite a few of those back then. But there were only six places in the national art academy. Six! For the whole country. After she finished high school my mum applied for a place in the national art academy. She finished seventh. Three of the first six names were those of children of high-ranking Securitate officials.
It was very normal in those days to apply seven, eight, nine times for a place in the national art academy. After her first application, my mum applied only once more. She finished, again, with the first ten, but not with the first six. Then she gave up art completely and focused on starting a family.
More than 15 years later her friends ‘tricked’ her into painting again. They asked if they could take painting lessons with her. She agreed. Her friends weren’t very good at painting, but they continued demanding more classes. One day, my mum couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed the brush from one of her friends hands and said “Damn it, let me show you: this is how you do it.” And that is how she started painting again.
I’m convinced that when it is inside you, when you need to create, it will come out eventually, even if you neglect, ignore or suppress the urge to create completely.
I make documentaries. I’m still learning. I want to get into filmschool, to learn more, faster. That is what a school can do for you I think. There are only a few places. Next year I will take my Dutch exams and if I pass those I will apply.
