The life and work of the French-Belgian sculptor with Bessarabian origins Idel Ianchelevici were presented in a conference at the National Museum of Arts of Moldova on June 6. The event was organized by the Embassy of Romania and the Romanian Cultural Institute “Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau. It forms part of a series of activities carried out in connection with Romania’s presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, IPN reports.
“The fact that the educative, cultural dimension is essential during the mandate of the Romanian presidency is not accidental because the Holocaust deprived humanity of the treasury of creativity and creativity potential that the Jewish communities in this region brought and this is one of the most palpable aspects of this tragedy. I think Idel Ianchelevici is a figure that can illustrate this creativity,” said the Ambassador of Romania in Chisinau Marius Lazurca.
Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute Valeriu Matei said that Idel Ianchelevici is one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. He made over 4,000 sculptures and drawings, many of which are in two museums in Belgium and France. “Idel Ianchelevici is the most important, significant and representative artistic product of the Jews from Bessarabia. Idel Ianchelevici is a reference name,” he stated.
The conference will be followed by the unveiling of Idel Ianchelevici’s bust in Leova town, where the sculptor was born. A street will be renamed Idel Ianchelevici in this town.
Idel Ianchelevici was born in a family of Jewish peasants on May 5, 1909. He studied fine arts in Belgium. After World War II, he settled in France. Idel Ianchelevici was designated the cultural ambassador of Israel in the world and a member of honor of the Romanian Academy. He died in June 1994.
