UNESCO Adds Brancusi Sculptures to Heritage List

UNESCO has officially added the outdoor sculptures of Romanian modernist Constantin Brancusi, including the 'Endless Column' and 'Gate of the Kiss', to its World Heritage list, recognizing their significance as exemplary public art from the 20th century. These sculptures, located in Targu Jiu and created between 1937 and 1938 as tributes to World War I soldiers, span a 1.5-km-long axis known as the Avenue of Heroes. Romanian Culture Minister Raluca Turcan emphasized the importance of this recognition for preserving these monuments for future generations and cultural memory. Brancusi, originally from Romania but who spent most of his life in Paris, had intended to leave his works to Romania, but the communist government refused his offer prior to his death in 1957. The recent recognition comes after a series of exhibitions celebrating Brancusi's work, including a retrospective in Timisoara and a comprehensive exhibit in Paris. This addition brings attention to both Brancusi's legacy and Romania's artistic heritage.