What connects Chagall and the Romanian sculptor Brancusi? An exhibition of archival materials in Vitebsk will tell.

The Marc Chagall Art Center has opened an exhibition of archival and documentary photography "Brancusi and Chagall. Free to be themselves," uniting two great artists of the 20th century.

As explained by Irina Voronova, Director of the Marc Chagall Museum, it is unknown whether the Belarusian artist and the Romanian sculptor knew each other. They could have met in Paris, where they lived at the same time, or in America, where they were forced to move when France was occupied by the fascists. Researchers of the life and work of Marc Chagall and Constantin Brancusi do not have such facts, but these names have much in common, primarily their contribution to avant-garde art of the 20th century.

The two creators have similar biographies: both left their provinces to seek recognition in Paris, both were part of the circle of famous representatives of the French art school, lived long creative lives, and became iconic figures in their homelands.

– Constantin Brancusi, a late student of Auguste Rodin, is called the patriarch of modern sculpture and one of the founders of the abstract style. The roots of his work lie in the traditions, myths, and symbolism of Romanian folk art, which makes him an inseparable part of our national heritage. The only monumental complex considered Brancusi's central work is located in the Romanian city of Târgu Jiu. The "The Way of the Hero" ensemble was erected in 1937-1938 in memory of those who fell during World War I. It includes the "Endless Column," "The Table of Silence," "The Gate of the Kiss," and "The Alley of Chairs." Currently, the complex is a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, – noted at the exhibition opening Viorel Moșanu, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Belarus (pictured on the right).

The exhibition features a unique collection of archival photographs illustrating the stages of the construction of the "Endless Column" in Târgu Jiu. The photographs were taken by Ștefan Georgescu-Gorjan, a Romanian engineer who coordinated the construction of the ensemble. The exhibition is complemented by a documentary film with rare newsreel footage from 1923-1939, capturing Constantin Brâncuși at work, in his studio, with friends, and during the construction of the "Path of the Heroes" ensemble.

Visitors will also be able to see documentary photographs of the Romanian-Belarusian exhibition "Homage to Brâncuși," which was exhibited at the Museum of the History of the City of Minsk last year. Their author is the renowned Belarusian photographer and poet Yevgeny Pesetsky.

The opening ceremony featured performances of works by composer Erik Satie, a close friend of Constantin Brâncuși, by Artem Shaplyko, a soloist of the Belarusian State Philharmonic.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of Marc Chagall and the 60th anniversary of the death of Constantin Brâncuși. Gennady Egorov, Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee, reminded of another significant date at the opening of the exhibition – the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Romania.

The exhibition will be on display until October 8.

Tatyana Pasternak. Photos by Dmitry OSIPOV. "Vitebskiye Vesti".