#Exhibit of the Month

This remarkable portrait of Mihai Eminescu, created by artist Alexandru Gușanov, is based on one of the four known photographs of the poet. The photograph that inspired this portrait was taken in 1869 in Wenceslas Square, Prague, when Eminescu was only 19 years old. The oval composition and harmonious color palette highlight the prominent personality and charisma of the young poet, capturing an expression that conveys both melancholy and intellectual depth.
Alexandru Gușanov (1929-2005), a Moldovan painter of Ukrainian origin, distinguished himself through his extensive work, comprising approximately 5,000 pieces - portraits, landscapes, and still life paintings. Settled in Moldova since 1945, Gușanov graduated from the Republican Art School "I.E. Repin" in Chișinău in 1952. His works were showcased in numerous national and international exhibitions and were highly appreciated in countries such as France, Hungary, Russia, and Yugoslavia. The artist dedicated a significant part of his career to creating portraits of historical and cultural figures, including Dimitrie Cantemir, Mihail Kogălniceanu, and Alexei Mateevici, which are part of the National Museum of History of Moldova's collection.

The subject of the portrait, Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), is the most significant poet in Romanian literature, whose works reflect profound thought, sensitivity toward nature, and national identity. At the age of 19, when the photograph that inspired this portrait was taken, Eminescu was in the midst of his intellectual formation, preparing to become the iconic voice of Romanian culture. Among his most famous works is the poem Luceafărul (The Morning Star), a masterpiece of universal literature.

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Exhibitions

The Tamer of Steel, in Chisinau

November 29, 2023 - Janaury 7, 2024

Daniel Rădulescu, Romanian contemporary artist, known for his special technique of steel sculpture, the most collected artist working in steel in Romania, presents his creations in Chisinau on the occasion of Romania's National Day. The public can admire for a month 8 of his iconic works, made entirely of steel.

Daniel Rădulescu (b. 1990, Brașov) makes his sculptures by hand modeling, with thousands of layers of molten steel, without using molds or forms. This feature makes his sculptures unique, impossible to replicate. Daniel Rădulescu is one of the best-known artists in Romania, his metal sculptures are sought after by collectors from all over the world. The prices of his works increased in 2022 by 1,600% compared to his first works sold.

He studied the sphere of digital and 3D graphics, until he became captivated by any tangible material, from stone, wood and plaster, to the hardness and at the same time fluidity of metal. He explored many possible steel processing technologies until it took shape under his hands. The texture resulting from his impressive working technique has become an emblem of the artist. Daniel Rădulescu has made 97 sculptures to date, all of which are in private collections in 10 countries on 3 continents.

"I want to instill empathy and make visitors look beyond a hard material like steel. Two of these works are inspired by Greek mythology, Bacchus and Daedalus. Each has its own story, but both are made in different chapters of their personal lives. Together, I feel that the 8 sculptures represent me and reconstruct a route of my life; they will communicate well in a common space," says the artist Daniel Rădulescu.

The exhibition takes place at the National Museum of History of Moldova in Chisinau, Bronze Hall, from November 29 to December 20, 2023, and the opening takes place on November 29, at 16:00.

The project is financed by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova within the Government of Romania.