The reappearance of a monumental sculpture in Romania
This extraordinary story begins in August 1991 when, at the invitation of an institution, the artist Ewerdt Hilgemann set off from Amsterdam to participate in a sculpture symposium in Galati, Romania. A journey of 2,357 kilometers!
A tribute to the artist Constantin Brâncuşi
Artist Ewerdt Hilgemann tells us this story:
“In August 1991, we left Amsterdam to meet other artists at the International Metal Sculpture Symposium in Galați, Romania.
After driving 2,357 km, we first stopped in Târgu Jiu to see “The Endless Column” by the renowned Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. Instead of just seeing an image in a book, I was so impressed by this work that I wanted to create ‘my own tallest piece ever’ and pay homage to it.
“The Endless Column” by Constantin Brâncuși.
A sculpture 12 meters high!
Ewerdt Hilgemann’s idea:
“I decided to use rectangular shapes that could be stacked (like pieces of meat on a skewer). Formed by natural air pressure, four pieces, each 3 meters long, reached a total height of 12 meters, while rotating the boxes revealed similarities as well as differences in shape from any angle.”
Citizen action was at the origin of this revival
While the city of Galați was supposed to install the sculpture upright, “the beauty” was placed in the greenery along the Danube, where it lay for nearly 32 years.
Thanks to questions from citizens, initiatives were undertaken to begin “awakening” it, and the sculpture finally found its place in a landscaped location on the banks of the Danube on March 23, 2023.
“I am very happy to have created a work that could become a symbol of the strength of the city of Galați, its industrial heritage, and its determination.”
Ewerdt Hilgemann
The symposium without which none of this would have happened
The artist Ewerdt Hilgemann was wise to keep the invitation to this metal sculpture symposium.
It was unimaginable at the time that such an incredible story would unfold 32 years later in Galați!
Learn more about Ewerdt Hilgemann
Born in 1938 in Witten, Germany, he lives and works in Amsterdam.
Ewerdt Hilgemann graduated from the Saarbrücken Academy of Fine Arts in Germany.
The Radial Contemporary Art Gallery has represented the artist for many years.
The Creator of Implosions
From the beginning, Ewerdt Hilgemann’s work has been imbued with elemental research. Influenced by his teacher Oskar Holweck, one of the co-founders of the ZERO movement, he became passionate about the ZERO group’s approach and vision, particularly the use of movement and light as artistic mediums.
After experimenting with delicate, light-capturing wall pieces in white wood in the 1960s, he turned to conceptual sculpture. In 1980, he introduced into his working method the notion of chance and natural forces beyond his control.
Ewerdt Hilgemann in his Amsterdam studio.
Los Angeles, Zeist, Berlin…
In recent months, several of the artist’s monumental sculptures have been installed in public spaces in Europe and the United States.
Ewerdt Hilgemann enjoys growing international recognition.
To learn more about the artist, visit his page on our website:
Learn all about Ewerdt Hilgemann
Several of the artist’s works are available at the Radial Contemporary Art Gallery.
Have a project or idea? Contact us.
Here in January 2023: the installation of the sculpture “Habakuk” on Avenue of the Stars in Los Angeles, USA
