UNESCO has added a series of outdoor sculptures by Romanian modernist master Constantin Brancusi to its world heritage list. These pieces, considered among the most significant public artworks of the 20th century, were created in the late 1930s in Targu Jiu, a small southwestern Romanian town. Brancusi’s collection, including the ‘Endless Column’ and the ‘Gate of the Kiss,’ was crafted as a tribute to World War I soldiers and stretches 1.5 kilometers along the town’s Avenue of Heroes.
Romanian Culture Minister Raluca Turcan emphasized the importance of this recognition, stating, “This compels us to preserve this monumental ensemble for future generations and humanity’s cultural heritage,” as reported by Reuters.
Brancusi, born in Hobita near the Carpathian Mountains, journeyed to Paris in 1904 after an 18-month trek. He worked under Auguste Rodin until 1907, when he declared, “Nothing grows under big trees,” and struck out on his own. He left his studio and artworks to France upon his death in 1957, after the communist Romanian government declined his offer.
In 2023, Timisoara hosted Romania’s first Brancusi retrospective in over 50 years, while the Centre Pompidou in Paris recently concluded a comprehensive Brancusi exhibit, highlighting his enduring legacy.
