Brâncuși. Sculpting with Light / Brâncuși. Rzeźbienie światłem

Photobook for the exhibition at the International Cultural Centre in Krakow.

The exhibition and photobook “Brâncuși. Sculpting with Light” are an attempt to enter the world of one of the most important artists of the 20th century – Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși – and to look at his work through the prism of light and photography. Wystawa i photobook „Brâncuși. Rzeźbienie światłem” są próbą wejścia w świat jednego z najważniejszych artystów XX wieku – rumuńskiego rzeźbiarza Constantina Brâncușiego – oraz spojrzenia na jego twórczość poprzez pryzmat światła i fotografii.

This is not a traditional biographical story about the artist. It is an attempt to delve into his creative process, to understand the way he perceived the world and matter, as well as how he used light and shadow to give form deeper meanings.

At the beginning of the 20th century in Paris, Constantin Brâncuși revolutionised the language of sculpture, reducing form to its essence and seeking purity and spiritual depth within it. Considered one of the fathers of modern art, he introduced abstraction and organic simplicity into sculpture, inspiring entire generations of artists. His works – ‘Endless Column’ and ‘Bird in Space’ – are not only sculptures, but meditations on light, space and transcendence, which places Brâncuși among the most outstanding visionaries of 20th-century art.

At the beginning of the 20th century in Paris, Constantin Brâncuși revolutionised the language of sculpture, reducing form to its essence and seeking purity and spiritual depth within it. Considered one of the fathers of modern art, he introduced abstraction and organic simplicity into sculpture, inspiring entire generations of artists. His works – ‘Endless Column’ and ‘Bird in Space’ – are not only sculptures, but meditations on light, space and transcendence, which places Brâncuși among the most outstanding visionaries of 20th-century art.

The publication also presents a detailed biography of the artist, which describes, among other things, his journey from his hometown of Hobița in Olteni, Romania, to Paris, his education and artistic development, and his most famous exhibitions.

The catalogue contains reproductions of 40 original photographs by Constantin Brâncuși from prestigious private collections: David Grob, Christian Reyntjens and Bruce Silverstein.

The last chapter also presents 22 photographs by one of Romania’s most famous photographers, Ion Miclea. These are photographs of the sculpture complex in Târgu Jiu, the most valuable legacy that Constantin Brâncuși left to his homeland. The project, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, was the fulfilment of the artist’s great dream to erect a monument in his native region commemorating the events of the First World War, which would also be a reflection on love, death and memory.

The exhibition and catalogue were designed by the International Cultural Centre in Krakow in cooperation with the Romanian Cultural Institute as part of the Romania-Poland Cultural Season 2024-2025, co-financed by the City of Krakow.

Published by © Międzynarodowe Centrum Kultury, Kraków 2025

Author of the texts

Doïna Lemny

Managing editor
Paulina Roszak – Niemirska

Graphic design and DTP
Kuba Sowiński

Translations

Marta Duda-Gryc, Jessica Taylor-Kucia,

Proofread by

Aleksandra Łozińska, Jessica Taylor-Kucia, Eduard Enache

Printed and bound by

Drukarnia Skleniarz