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ARTS 37
Don’t miss: The Modern Idol. Henry Moore in the Eastern Bloc Until 6 February 2022, the Romanian National Museum of Art (MNAR) and the Institute of the Present are hosting the exhibition titled The Modern Idol. Henry Moore in the Eastern Bloc, which presents a contextualisation of the Henry Moore tour of 1966-67, when the famous artist travelled to Bucharest, Bratislava, Prague, and Budapest. By Oana Vasiliu unofficial channels. “The discussions surrounding the exhibition did nonetheless offer evidence that the local artistic and cultural life was stimulated by Moore’s presence, in some cases shaping individual artistic careers or reinforcing ideas and tendencies already present within the cultural landscape of these Photos courtesy of MNAR
countries in the 1960s. Accordingly, Moore’s exhibitions constituted a shared tool for both British and local authorities in their own cultural diplomacy,” organisers add. Henry Moore’s touring exhibition represents an exceptional moment in the post-war Explore the art of Henry Moore
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history of art in the Eastern Bloc. Revisiting such an event from a transnational point
ntil 6 February 2022, the Romanian
authorities in Romania, Czechoslovakia, and
of view can significantly contribute to the
National Museum of Art (MNAR)
Hungary, the exhibition featured works—
understanding of the intricacies of 1960s
and the Institute of the Present are
sculptures and drawings—spanning over five
cultural politics. At the time, MNAR bought
decades, from 1924 until 1964.
a sculpture by Henry Moore, which is still in
hosting the exhibition titled The Modern Idol. Henry Moore in the Eastern Bloc, which
The current research explores the stories
the museum’s collection.
presents a contextualisation of the Henry
of these shows in Bucharest, Bratislava,
Moore tour of 1966-67, when the famous art-
Prague, and Budapest, investigating their
lyst of the British sculptural renaissance that
ist travelled to Bucharest, Bratislava, Prague,
role in taming the political tensions and the
followed his rise to fame in his own lifetime.
and Budapest.
conflicting ideologies after 1960. “The exhibi-
Henry Moore is considered to be the cata-
In 1977, he founded the Henry Moore
“The Modern Idol. Henry Moore in the
tions were the result of a cultural exchange
Foundation, which still deals with the heri-
Eastern Bloc” is a collective research project
programme with the Eastern Bloc managed
tage. In August 1986, Henry Moore died in
initiated by art historians Alina Serban
by the British Council: in exchange for hosting
Perry Green at a moment seen as the pinnacle
(Bucharest), Daniel Véri (Budapest) and Lujza
Moore’s show, these countries had the chance
of his career. A few years before his death,
Kotočová (Prague) and it contains a series of
to organise similar events in the UK. The
he had become the best-selling living artist
interviews with witnesses of the exhibition in
timeline presented in the current exhibition
in auctions. Sales records were broken in
Romania, the Czech Republic, and Hungary:
explores such bilateral connections between
2012 when the 1951 piece “Reclining Figure:
art historians Ioana Vlasiu, Krisztina Passuth,
the UK and the three socialist countries.
Festival” sold for USD 19.1 million. He is the
Márta Kovalovszky, and Péter Kovács; paint-
Furthermore, it highlights events related to
second most expensive British artist, after
ers Constantin Flondor and László Gyémánt;
Moore that took place in the Eastern Bloc
Francis Bacon.
sculptors Grigorie Minea, Peter Jacobi, and
(Poland, Bulgaria) and Yugoslavia,” the organ-
György Jovánovics; and intermediate artist
isers note.
At the time of his death, Moore had created just over 1,000 sculptures, over 700
The reception of Moore’s work was differ-
graphics, and almost 5,500 drawings, leaving
historians Márta Kovalovszky & Péter Kovács.
ent in each of these countries due to the spe-
an incredible wealth of material to be remem-
At the time believed to be the artist’s largest
cific artistic and political conditions and the
bered. To a certain extent, Moore secured his
international retrospective, organised by the
varying degree of awareness towards Moore’s
own legacy with great acts of generosity, par-
British Council in collaboration with local
oeuvre, acquired earlier through official or
ticularly through gifts to public collections.
Adéla Matasová.Krisztina Passuth, and art
