Ștefan Câlția is a Romanian contemporary painter whose visually striking canvases are known for their oneiric feel. Reimagining through certain symbols the places that shaped him, such as the grandparents’ village, or the Transylvanian landscape, Câlția illustrates precious still lifes, theatrical compositions or paintings with herbs and fields. His works are held in a number of private collections in Europe and in museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Oslo, Norway, the HR Giger Museum in Gruyères, Switzerland, the National Museum of Contemporary Art Romania and the Brukenthal Museum in Sibiu, Romania. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the National Order for Faithful Service and the King Michael I Medal for Loyalty.

The water seeker, 2008 takes up perhaps Câlția’s most used motif, that of the fish. A ubiquitous theme in the artist’s work, the motif is also found in his signature. Painted in gracious delicacy, the composition depicting a fish carrying a house and a solitary character might represent hidden meanings regarding living one’s life in wealth, creativity, clearness and vital energy - all symbolisms of the fish motif. However, the title suggests a narrative tension at the centre of which the floating fish creates a story involving both tradition and fantasy.