14. Christ

George Apostu was a representative artist as far as tradition and themes of popular origin were concerned. In his sculptures in wood or stone he always found the stylistic innovation methods he was searching for, as the artist has always rejected the rigour of Academic art. He has also achieved authentic ethnographic pieces of work, inspired by archaic prototypes. He made his breakthrough with portraits, but he soon understood that his real creative power lies in monumental sculpture. His main source of inspiration lies in the work of Constantin Brâncuși. He does not imitate, but instead he takes over and rethinks the procedures which he finds most attractive, hence bringing to fruition his heritage values. George Apostu chooses his archetypal subject matters or ancestral motifs, which he transposes into cycles ("Father and Son", "Christ"). He does not stand out by using stylistic extravagances, but instead he adheres to themes that are perennial thanks to their meaning and their simplicity. What he embraces from popular art often serves as reminders of sacredness. Apostu makes an effort not to waste his own creative means, so that he would never become overzealous and he would never ostentatiously display sophisticated instruments. His work is encapsulated in the direct carving, in wood or stone, of traditional metaphors which have been revitalised thanks to this modern sculptor's innovative approach.

References

BARBOSA, Octavian, "Dicționarul Artiștilor Români Contemporani" ("Dictionary of Contemporary Romanian Artists"), Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1976. "Dicționarul Sculptorilor din România. Secolele XIX-XX" ("Dictionary of Romanian Sculptors. 19th-20th centuries"), vol. I, letters A-G., Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2011.

Dimensions

depth 24 cm, width 50 cm, height 168 cm, custom 168 × 50 × 24 cm

Description

wood

Research information

The artwork was part of the exhibition "10 urmași ai lui Brâncuși" ("10 followers of Brâncuși"), Art Safari, 11th ed., 2023.

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