Apeiron is a project proposed by Ștefan Petrică in the framework of the Energie! Creative Fellowship in which he will explore microscopic life in 4 different aquatic ecosystems. Ștefan Petrică will create a series of works using painting and drawing techniques based on photographs and video images taken with the help of a professional microscope belonging to the County Library of Arad. The artist will study water samples by analyzing them under the microscope.

"As a central unifying element of the project I use the concept of Apeiron from ancient Greek philosophy. The Presocratic philosopher Anaximander spoke of the substance of the world, or the boundless, indefinite and infinite principle from which everything originates and to which everything returns. Before the advent of any form of physical or natural science, Anaximander hypothesized that the universe originates from an infinite substance and that it is the underlying foundation of all existence, calling it Apeiron, which is also translated as infinity. I will metaphorically associate this concept with water as I will be studying the aquatic environment through macro photography, seeking to symbolize and represent through abstract painting the idea of an underlying, boundless reality that encompasses and transcends the diversity of observable phenomena in the world. I consider this concept to reflect my current practice of studying forms and spaces inaccessible to human perception. I want to create images that go beyond the boundaries of familiar forms, seeking abstract forms that challenge perception."

Ștefan Petrică will take samples from four waters: the Bega Canal in Timișoara, the Mureș River in Arad, Lake Balaton near Veszprem (Hungary) and the Aegean Sea, Elefsina (Greece). The photographs and video footage he will take in the four places will be analyzed in Timișoara, together with a biologist, to identify microscopic flora and fauna species, different degrees of pollution or man-made materials and natural or artificial features specific to each sample. Based on this, Ștefan Petrică will create his own paintings or drawings inspired by the study of microscopic findings, illustrating their similarities and differences and interpreting them. The works will be exhibited alongside texts describing the research process, geographical and social contexts, degrees of pollution, natural or man-made (micro-plastic) elements and types of life in the ecosystems.
The texts will reflect not only the invisible life in the waters that flow through different cities and regions, but also the unintended effects of anthropogenic activity that affect the environment. The reason for choosing the four cities is that they are culturally twinned. Timisoara and Arad have collaborated in the Timisoara 2023 European Capital of Culture program, and Elefsina and Veszprem were also European Capitals of Culture in 2023.