Bio:
1971- Born in Baia Mare (northern Transylvania). At that time, the town was one of the most polluted in the world, due to the proximity of gold and lead industry.
1978-1986 grade school
I was a performance swimmer, trained in the Romanian communist manner (huge effort – no food). Average achievements, some diplomas and medals in national cups and championships.
1986-1990 high school
I was appointed as chief of the communist youth organization of the college. As they gave me an office, I used it to skip classes sleeping there. I spent the 1989 revolution in bed. After this I was elected to represent students in the college board and refused.
1990 leaved Baia Mare for Bucharest
1990 -1995
I studied Geology at Bucharest University. In 1992 I was also accepted by the University of Architecture and I studied there for one year. During this period I started to take pictures and a friend encouraged me to go study at the Film University.
1995 – 1996 for six months I attended the required military duty and I liked it. Then I worked as a geologist in a gold mine next to Baia Mare, took pictures.
1996 – 2000 Film University
In 1998 I started to work for magazines and advertising as a photographer. In 1999 my daughter, Sasa, was born. I graduated in 2000, with a cinematographer diploma. During this time I continued to take pictures while shooting short movies for school.
2000 – 2013
I worked as fashion and advertising photographer, as well as cinematographer. I was assigned for magazines like ELLE, FHM, ESQUIRE and many others, working especially fashion and portrait. I also have shot advertising campains for clients as big as the first 3 big corporates coming in your mind. I worked as cinematographer for music videos. I have shot more then 50 videos for main bands and singers in Romania (they were not so good, both the singers and the videos). At the same time I worked for personal projects and participate in some shows and exhibitions. I shot some shorts and long movies. In 2005 I founded a small agency, “Umbrela” which was the first agency representing photographers in Romania.
In 2009 I shot a long movie, “The Belly of The Whale”, for some friends. This was a home made movie and was in some big festivals like Locarno and Toronto.
In 2011 I started to swim again and to draw.
In 2016, start to shoot experimental videos.
Selected exhibitions:
– 2024 – “Monstrul, pătratul și hohotul” – Group Exhibition, Museum of Recent Art – MARE, curated by Dan Popescu
– 2024 – “The Photographs I Wish I’d Taken” – Solo Show, 2/3 Galeria, Bucharest
– 2024 – “Expoziția Dan Popescu” – Group Exhibition, Palatul Lahovary, Bucharest
– 2023 – “I Despise All Movement that Displaces Line” – Group Exhibition, Cluj Napoca, CONECTOR – ON/OFF, curated by Radu Comsa and Horatiu Lipot
– 2022 – “Mereu eu” (Always Me), H’Art Gallery, personal exhibition;
– 2020 – “Plante exotice” (Exotic Plants), video, Tranzit Iasi – group exhibition;
– 2018 – “ Reinventarea apei calde” (The Reinventing of Hot Water), drawings, Carturesti Carusel, Bucharest – personal exhibition;
– 2015 – “Cinci frici mici” (Five Small Frights), drawings, H’art Appendix, Bucharest – personal exhibition;
– 2014 – “Pionierul la ecluza” (The Pioneer at Floodgate), drawings, Street Delivery Festival, Bucharest – personal exhibition;
– 2013 – “Hidden Stories” – photography, H’art Gallery, Bucharest – personal exhibition
– 2013 – “Hidden Stories”,photography, H’art gallery Bucharest – personal exhibition;
– 2009 – “Hidden Stories”,photography, Basel Art Fair – Volta, represented by H’art Gallery;
– 2008 – “Transported People” – photography, sound installation – Madrid, Photoespagna Festival, ICR Gallery – personal exhibition;
– 2007 – “Exhibitions” – photography, installation – Bucharest, “H’art Gallery” – personal exhibition
– 2002 – “Expozitie” – photography – Bucharest, “Central University Library Gallery” – personal exhibition
– 1999 – “Bucharest as pieces” – photography – Bucharest, National Museum of Art – personal exhibition
Selected filomgraphy:
2020
– “ Tu nu poti sa simti durerea mea de dinti” (You Can’t Feel My Toothache) – video, 6’25”;
– “ The Situation Is Hopeless But Not Serious”- video, 6’06”;
– “ 5 Conceivable Mountains” – video, 3’08”;
– “ A Star Is Rising from Bedroom” – video, 0’51”;
– “ How You Can’t Be Alone” – video, 1’49”;
– “ 60/90/20” – video, 4’43”.
2019
– “ A Choir of Angels” – Video, 3’06”;
– “ A Frozen Heaven” – Video, 2’13”;
– “ Shadows 3” – TV series, produced by HBO, camera operator;
2017
– “Shadows 2” – TV series, produced by HBO, camera operator;
2016
– “ Ana mon amour” – feature produced by Parada Film, camera Operator;
2010
– “ Burta balenei” (The Belly of the Whale) – feature – Director of Photography, producer;
2000
– “Invitatie la masa” (An Invitation to Lunch), short, Director of Photography
ALEXANDRU PAUL
Str. Sperantei 36
020994 Bucharest, Romania
Tel: 0040722225354
E-mail: paul@alexandrupaul.com