Paul Neagu 

(22 February 1938 - 16 June 2004)

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Richard Demarco's first visit to Eastern Europe in 1968 coincided with the political upheavals caused by Russian intervention in Czechoslovakia and the Prague Spring. Demarco was reluctant to continue his journey south to Romania but, when he did, he discovered a group of artists who were making extraordinary new work that did not reference the Socialist Realist work that dominated academic work in the Soviet Union. Three of these  artists, Peter and Ritzi Jacobi, and Paul Neagu, were shown at the Richard Demarco Gallery in 1969. Neagu recalled that Demarco's visit and his subsequent experiences in Scotland gave him a greater sense of personal freedom than he had ever had before. It also launched his career in Europe at a relatively young age.  He said that 'it was a moment of happiness and infinite freedom', and he told Richard Demarco : 

"Ever since 1969-72, particularly coming to Scotland, Callanish, Outer Hebrides, Brochs, Standing Temples of Stone, Celtic works of intricate curves, my obsession with cells within cells has reworked itself around a centre. This centre was my soul."

Neagu became an internationally important artist, working in diverse media such as drawing, sculpture, performance art and watercolour. His Hyphen Series is an important artistic statement. His work can be seen in the British Museum and the Tate Gallery.