Rareori poate fi vazut in zilele noastre un barbat care sa impleteasca credinta cu
traditia, religiosul si laicul intr-o maniera cuminte si echilibrata asa cum o face Ticu
Ungureanu. E ceva in chipul sau care il apropie mai mult de linistitul cer decat de
tulburatul pamant, sursa inspiratiei sale fiind cel mai adesea in credinta sa puternica,
autentica si statornica.
A invatat sa dea viata lemnului furand de la unul, de
la altul tainele acestui mestesug; alteori, a privit indelung acest chin al facerii, in
toate ajutandu-l dragostea lui pentru intreaga creatie a lui Dumnezeu. Desi in prima
tinerete a cochetat cu croitoria, pe care a deprins-o in Iasi, lemnul este dragostea lui
de capatai, din lemn faurind cruciulite, cruci, troite miniaturale, linguri, linguroaie,
cociorve, dar mai ales troite in marime naturala, acestea ajungand uneori la o inaltime de
circa 6 m. Multe sate din preajma comunei Duda Epureni se mandresc cu astfel de troite
faurite de mesterul Ungureanu. Deja numele sau tinde a deveni renume, modestia,
seriozitatea, si credinta lucratoare ii sunt asociate atunci cand cineva il pomeneste.
Ticu Ungureanu a ales sa ramana foarte aproape de
biserica crestina prin aproape tot ceea ce face; obiectele sale au ceva inefabil ce ne
aduc aminte de cruce, credinta, suferinta, alinare sau dragoste. De altfel, mesterul de la
Epureni afirma explicit: „Simt ca-l marturisesc pe Dumnezeu prin ceea ce fac! Suportul
artei mele este credinta”. Iar atunci cand mai ai si binecuvantarea unui duhovnic ca
arhimandritul Mina Dobzeu incepi sa intelegi de unde isi trage mesterul Ungureanu puterea
si intelepciunea, rabdarea si credinta, dragostea si priceperea. Astfel, dupa multe si
indelungate cautari, Ticu Ungureanu a ajuns linistit acasa, casa sa fiind arta religioasa
in care exceleaza de cativa ani: „M-am regasit in domeniul artei. Mi-am dezgropat
talantul. Sunt implinit spiritual si intr-o oarecare masura si material.”
Familia frumoasa, cadrul natural superb in care
creeaza, atelierul care se infiripa in ograda casei din Epureni, albinutele ce-i imprumuta
din energia lor misterioasa, baiatul ce-i calca pe urme, bunatatea si caldura ce emana din
toata fiinta sa – iata alte coordonate ce intregesc profilul profesional-uman al unui
creator popular deosebit. |
Rarely
can we see today a man able to bring faith and tradition, the religious and the profane
together in a balanced manner as Ticu Ungureanu does. There is something about his face
which draws him more close to the tranquil sky than to the agitated earth, Ticu Ungureanu
drawing often his inspiration from his powerful, authentic and constant faith.
He learned to give life to the wood by stealing the
secrets of this handicraft from various people; he had long watched the creation pains,
his respect for God’s whole creation being of great help for him. Although during his
early youth years he flirted with tailoring which he learned in Iasi, the wood remains his
first love; he builds of wood: small crosses, crucifixes, trinities in miniature, spoons,
ladles, fire hooks but especially full size wayside crucifixes/trinities, sometimes 6
meters high. Many villages near Duda Epureni locality pride with such trinities made by
the artisan Ungureanu. His name is becoming famous, modesty and earnestness being
associated to his name when people mention him.
Ticu Ungureanu has chosen to remain very close to the
Christian church in everything he does; his objects are characterized by something
unutterable which suggests us symbols and feelings such as the cross, faith, pain, comfort
and love. In fact the artisan from Epureni states explicitly: “I feel I preach God!
Faith is the support of art”. And when you have the blessing of a father confessor like
the archimandrite Mina Dobzeu you begin to understand where from the artisan draws his
power, his wisdom, patience, faith, love and skill. Thus after many and long searches,
Ticu Ungureanu has settled down, home, the religious art he excels in for several years
being his home: “I found myself again in art. I brought my talent to light. I feel
complete, to a certain extent also from the material point of view ”.
His beautiful family, the wonderful natural setting,
the shop has begun to put together in the patio of his house from Epureni, the bees which
lend him part of their mysterious energy, the boy who follows his steps, the kindness and
warmth emanating from his entire body – these are the coordinates which round the
portrait of this special artisan. |
