Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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Here to Be is a collection of the best arts from Costin Chioreanu's portfolio created in the last seven years, some of them in extended or rare versions and while others presented for the first time to the public eye. Following the highly acclaimed debut artbook The Magic As A Golden Mean, released in 2015 by Svart Records, Here to Be shows the profound establishment of the artist's versatile style. From the bold and heavy to extremely detailed etching-like, Costin Chioreanu's precise and wavy lines are manifested in various mediums, from black ink illustrations to complex mixed techniques and acrylic or watercolor painting.

Here To Be is a timeless monument covering all the mediums and visual worlds ever accessed by the artist. No matter being one of the top worldwide artists of the heavy metal scene, Costin always pushed his creative boundaries beyond any borders imposed by the most avant-gardist member of this culture, always moving towards new levels of expression. Beyond his technical and visionary skills, his talent for looking deep into the soul of the music and creating this pure something that bonds with music and becomes the most potent whole.
 
The story insertions in Here to Be are profoundly dressed in mystery, as the artist handwritten all his personal stories in the opening chapter, using an unknown 'alphabet' and language.

"It is a personal discovery of how to describe and to transmit in writing properly profound ideas and concepts as the base of my work, dynamically, as no other known modality of communication gave me the proper support to do it. You must feel it, let it sink and let it grow. This is not an alphabet; these are the shapes of my thoughts, and this is how they come and become. Any memory or idea stored in our minds evolves due to the mental process and evolution of perception. My story does the same and respects no known language or alphabet, but most important, it is timeless, and that is what I want to aim for with this artbook." the artist comments.

The book will be released in 2023 for the 20th anniversary of Twilight13media, the pseudonym and graphic design studio Costin has used since the beginning of his career, collaborating with heavy metal bands worldwide. Here to Be covers all the highlights of his work made between 2015 to 2022, from arts created for Emperor, Ghost, Hypocrisy, Arch Enemy, My Dying Bride, and Paradise Lost to experimental paintings related to personal musical projects.

First 250 pre-orders will include
Hardback Edition signed by Costin Chioreanu
Exclusive A4 Art print signed by Costin Chioreanu
4 x A5 Art cards

Deluxe Edition specifications
Hardback cover
Portrait 210x290mm (8.26 x 11 inch)
Limited Edition of 500 copies
Over 200 Pages
150gms pages
Silk paper

Standard Edition specifications
Paperback cover
Portrait 210x290mm (8.26 x 11 inch)
Limited Edition of 500 copies
Over 200 Pages
150gms pages
Silk paper

Release date 24/02/2023

Pre-Orders Link:
store.heavymusicartwork.com/collections/books/products/costin-chioreanu-here-to-be-hardback-edition

Soundtrack: "Lvarn" by Arac, from the selftitled album released in 2022
Composed and recorded by Costin Chioreanu & Adrian Tabacaru
Instruments recorded at Taine-Multimedia Studio Bucharest by Adrian Tabacaru. Mixed by Alex Bolpasis at Suono Studio Athens. Reamped and mastered by George Bokos at Grindhouse Studios Athens. Vocals and flute recorded by George Bokos at Grindhouse Studios Athens.

Listen to the album:
https://linktr.ee/aracensemble