Idel Ianchelevici
Encyclopedia
Idel Ianchelevici was a Russia
n-born Romania
n and Belgian
sculptor and draughtsman.
, Bessarabia
, he left Romania for Belgium in 1928 to devote himself entirely to his passion for sculpture and drawing. After completing his military service back home, he returned to Liège and registered at the Académie des Beaux-Arts de la Ville, where he was awarded first prize for statuary art in 1933.
The same year, he married Elisabeth Frenay and moved to Brussels
. He took part in the design of the Romanian pavilion for the Exposition internationale universelle
in Brussels in 1935 and went on to hold a variety of exhibitions of his own in Brussels, Tel-Aviv, Paris
, Amsterdam
and several other cities.
1945 was the watershed year: Ianchelevici obtained Belgian nationality, and his famous statue l'Appel ("The Call") was officially unveiled in La Louvière
. 10 years later, Ianchelevici was awarded a grant to work in the Belgian Congo
, where he designed three statues intended to supplement the famous Stanley-monument in Léopoldville
(now Kinshasa) and produced a number of outstanding drawings. He subsequently exhibited his work in countries throughout the world. In 1950, he settled in France
, at Maisons-Laffitte
, where he remained until his death on at the age of 86. A cultural centre in the town now bears his name.
struggles of the time, and the Monument national au prisonnier politique ("National Monument to the Political Prisoner
") erected in Breendonk
in 1954.
The works of Ianchelevici literally step out of the medium. There is no void, no gap: the composition is entirely dictated by the mass and form of its volume (Paternel). From 1945 onwards, Ianchelevici began sculpting marble and stone - two notoriously difficult materials which require simplification of form. Limbs grew longer and more supple and the themes moved on, taking inspiration from the unformed, girlish figures of his young subjects. The artist's career underwent a major change at this point, as he embarked upon a ceaseless quest for simpler forms and more schematic faces (Eve, 1980). Alongside his sculpting, Ianchelevici never stopped drawing.
His drawings are works of art in their own right, and not always sketches for his sculptures. In both disciplines, however, he draws on the same themes and strives for the same simplicity of form.
""La Petite Cracheuse" crouches in play, fingers pressed to her mouth, with the water springing from her lips and glancing off her fingers; she whistles the water like music - but what more serious a game than to compose the fluid music of life?" Robert Vivier
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n and Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
sculptor and draughtsman.
Life
Born to Jewish parents in LeovaLeova
Leova is a city in Moldova, located 92 km southwest of the national capital, Chişinău. It is the administrative center of Leova District. The city is situated on the east bank of the river Prut bordering Romania.- Notable people:...
, Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
, he left Romania for Belgium in 1928 to devote himself entirely to his passion for sculpture and drawing. After completing his military service back home, he returned to Liège and registered at the Académie des Beaux-Arts de la Ville, where he was awarded first prize for statuary art in 1933.
The same year, he married Elisabeth Frenay and moved to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He took part in the design of the Romanian pavilion for the Exposition internationale universelle
Brussels International Exposition (1935)
The Brussels International Exposition of 1935 was held in Heysel Park, Brussels, Belgium from April 27 through November 6, 1935....
in Brussels in 1935 and went on to hold a variety of exhibitions of his own in Brussels, Tel-Aviv, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and several other cities.
1945 was the watershed year: Ianchelevici obtained Belgian nationality, and his famous statue l'Appel ("The Call") was officially unveiled in La Louvière
La Louvière
La Louvière is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. La Louvière's municipality includes the old communes of Haine-Saint-Paul, Haine-Saint-Pierre, Saint-Vaast, Trivières, Boussoit, Houdeng-Aimeries, Houdeng-Gœgnies, Maurage, and Strépy-Bracquegnies...
. 10 years later, Ianchelevici was awarded a grant to work in the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
, where he designed three statues intended to supplement the famous Stanley-monument in Léopoldville
Leopoldville
Leopoldville may refer to:* The capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, today known as Kinshasa* SS Leopoldville, a troopship sunk in 1944...
(now Kinshasa) and produced a number of outstanding drawings. He subsequently exhibited his work in countries throughout the world. In 1950, he settled in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, at Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Paris from the center....
, where he remained until his death on at the age of 86. A cultural centre in the town now bears his name.
Art
"The exaltation of mankind at the height of its powers" is the inspiration for Ianchelevici's work, which explains the ease of monumental compositions such as "l'Appel" (1939). His figures are expressive and powerful, witness Conspiration ("Conspiracy", 1932), a piece inspired by the working classWorking class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
struggles of the time, and the Monument national au prisonnier politique ("National Monument to the Political Prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
") erected in Breendonk
Breendonk
Breendonk is a small town in Belgium, population 3,000, halfway between Brussels and Antwerp.Its name stems from the medieval Bredene Dunc which translates as "wide mound" or "a dry spot in the marshes."...
in 1954.
The works of Ianchelevici literally step out of the medium. There is no void, no gap: the composition is entirely dictated by the mass and form of its volume (Paternel). From 1945 onwards, Ianchelevici began sculpting marble and stone - two notoriously difficult materials which require simplification of form. Limbs grew longer and more supple and the themes moved on, taking inspiration from the unformed, girlish figures of his young subjects. The artist's career underwent a major change at this point, as he embarked upon a ceaseless quest for simpler forms and more schematic faces (Eve, 1980). Alongside his sculpting, Ianchelevici never stopped drawing.
His drawings are works of art in their own right, and not always sketches for his sculptures. In both disciplines, however, he draws on the same themes and strives for the same simplicity of form.
Quotes
- "In moulding the clay model for a bronze, Ianchelevici's tense touch permeates the material with a vibrancy that can be described as Impressionist." Roger AvermaeteRoger AvermaeteRoger Avermaete was a Belgian writer who wrote in Dutch and French.In 1968, he was part of the cross-arts team which created the Christophe Plantin Prize.-Sources:*...
- "His respect for his medium transforms the figures he sculpts into beings born of the rock who, in turn, seem to breathe life into the inert stone." Eugénie De KeyserEugénie De KeyserEugénie De Keyser is a Belgian writer and art critic. She is Professor Emeritus at the "Université catholique de Louvain" and at the "Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis" , specializing in contemporary art and sculpture. She is member of the Royal Academy of Belgium.-References:...
""La Petite Cracheuse" crouches in play, fingers pressed to her mouth, with the water springing from her lips and glancing off her fingers; she whistles the water like music - but what more serious a game than to compose the fluid music of life?" Robert Vivier
Robert Vivier
Robert Vivier was a Belgian poet and writer . He has been member of the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature of Belgium from 1950 to 1989.Among many other book, he wrote a biography of Louis Antoine, the founder of Antoinism....
.