Equilibrium

Often compared to Constantin Brancusi due to their cultural origin and medium of choice, Ovidiu Maitec marked 20th-century sculpture with his own distinctive style. This was partly as a result of him being one of the only artists allowed to travel throughout Europe during the communist era, despite geographical and political divisions. He studied at the Institute of Fine Arts ‘N. Grigorescu’ in Bucharest (1945–1950) and, shortly after graduating, co-founded the Union of Plastics Arts in Romania (1950). Maitec’s sculpture has been imbued with political commentary since its inception, his early work being subject to the influence of Socialist Realism. The 1960s marked a shift towards abstract wood carvings, namely with the transitional piece ‘The Wall’, the title of which illustrates, once again, strong political inclinations. Although timelessly modern, Maitec’s art possesses an evident engineered quality, a functional potential. His wooden section a sawed clean, then carved into aerodynamic components forming a structure that appears to be able to sustain wind and other natural forces. This sense of engineered permanence complements the symbolism of balance and equilibrium Maitec has tirelessly varied. Equilibrium embodies the culmination of this research with longevity, symmetry and proportionality all emanating from a piece that likely reads as a political statement.