Marian Zidaru is the winner of the creative competition for the new “Constantin Brâncoveanu Trophy”. The jury members decided that the maquette “Body Cross” earned the artist the prize of 7,000 euro (gross).
The competition aimed to find the next trophy of the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala, an event organised annually by the Alexandrion Foundation to reward the work and dedication of Romania’s cultural figures.
The jury of the creative competition was made up of prominent personalities such as Doina Mândru, art historian – jury president; Nawaf Salameh, president of the Alexandrion Foundation – jury vice-president, represented by Ioana Corcodel; Ioan Scurtu, historian – jury member; Mircea Roman, sculptor – jury member; Magda Cârneci, critic – jury member; Cătălin Bălescu, rector of UNARTE – jury member; Ștefan Râmniceanu, visual artist – jury member; and Narcis Dorin Ion, director of the Peleș National Museum.
The jury had a difficult task and had to choose among the works of 57 entrants registered in the competition in accordance with the Regulations. In the end, it decided that the artist who managed to capture in his work the essence and values of the martyr Constantin Brâncoveanu, an emblematic figure of Romanian culture and history, was Marian Zidaru:
“‘Body Cross’, created by Marian Zidaru, was chosen as the trophy representing the idea of martyrdom, the Christian idea of growth and solidarity,” the jury members said in their citation.
“We wanted the new Constantin Brâncoveanu trophy to sum up the spiritual values that the Holy Martyr bequeathed to us and that we respect and honour. The jury’s task was indeed an extremely difficult one. As we expected, the creative spirit of Romanian artists was at the highest level. Each of the entrants tried to convey these values as well and as evocatively as possible, but only one could be named the winner, and the jury has made its decision. I congratulate the winner with all my heart, and I am convinced that he will be proud of every trophy that we present to emblematic figures at the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Galas,” said Nawaf Salameh, president of the Alexandrion Foundation.
The sculptor Marian Zidaru, winner of the competition, was born in Balotești, Ilfov County, on 22 August 1956. His name is well known in the art world. Marian Zidaru has taken part in national and international exhibitions with numerous sculptures and drawings of cultural and religious significance. His works can be found in renowned museums and galleries in Romania and around the world, as well as in private art collections in Europe, the United States of America and Asia.
The creative competition for the new Constantin Brâncoveanu trophy was launched by the Alexandrion Foundation on 13 March. The deadline for submitting entries was 1 June, and submission was made directly on the Foundation’s website. The competition rules required, among other things, that a maquette be sent to the organiser.
