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- Title
Paul Neagu and Hylesic Symbolism. A Tribute to His Memory.
- Authors
STÎRCEA-CRĂCIUN, Matei
- Abstract
With British and Romanian critics alike, Paul Neagu (1938-2004) ranked as possibly the most important Romanian sculptor since Brancusi. A sequence of citations is provided which articulate into a professional portrait of the artist. Despite favorable critical response, Neagu's work seemed to elude analysis, with the result that the sculptor was to remain to the end of his days a lonely island. Drawing on a monograph published one year before the artist's death, the essay outlines a line of visual discourse in Neagu's work that may account for his rank and status in posterity. An attentive reader of philosophy, he appears to have correctly identified and evaluated the roots of Brancusi's artistic excellence only to engage into the challenging project of cultivating the same vein of thought. Brancusi emphatically claimed that his work was respectful of the language of materials. Underlying the sheer beauty of shapes, the spectator's eye was challenged to read and understand the discourse of materials. This innovative use of materials as bearers of meaning may be conceptualized as hylesic symbolism (gr. hyle standing for material). While with Brancusi hylesic discourse is usually illustrated in autonomous compositions, Neagu made it his contribution to create cycles of works as strings of hylesic metaphors on one given material (steel, wood, bronze). He thereby succeeded to highlight the scope of the artistic current Brancusi may be credited to have launched in 20th century art.
- Subjects
NEAGU, Paul; HERMENEUTICS; ABSTRACT sculpture; BRANCUSI, Constantin, 1876-1957; SYMBOLISM
- Publication
Hermeneia: Journal of Hermeneutics, Art Theory & Criticism, 2019, Issue 22, p41
- ISSN
1453-9047
- Publication type
Article