It’s a normal day in the capital; the crowds of people rushing to get to work create the atmosphere of an anthill. Strolling along the boulevard, we turn our eyes towards a bus stop. A scream! People gather around the collapsed man, witnessing a morbid public spectacle akin to the corpse dissections of 17th century Amsterdam. Aurel Vlad, artist and academic, captures this moment, frozen in time, in the form of a work of art called “Accident (Anatomy Lesson)”, in honor of Rembrandt, who immortalized another event in his work “Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Nicolaes Tulp”. In the past, dissections with an educational role were transformed into real shows in which members of the intelligentsia could participate. Thus we can see the connection between this type of performance and the event in Bucharest. A character points with a stick at the victim’s genitals, a gesture reminiscent of Dr. Tulp’s forceps grasping the murderer’s muscle. This sculpture, which we are exhibiting as part of the MnART Open View project, is an echo of the Dutch master’s masterpiece, adapted to a more rugged figurative style with vernacular influences and an ironic touch, reflecting the Romanian artistic sensibility.

Aurel Vlad has a special place in the Romanian artistic community, being recognized internationally. A graduate of the Institute of Fine Arts “Nicolae Grigorescu”, the artist began his artistic career in the late 80s. He is multidisciplinary, producing engravings and graphics, but sculptures stand out among his creations. According to the artist the possibilities are endless, but the work is personal, and reflects the character of the creator. Aurel Vlad examines the surrounding world and its impact is translated into his artwork. In addition to the exterior, he also explores the inner world, where these impressions are integrated with personal experiences, thus resulting in the artwork. Through his creation, the artist wants to relate a truth of life. Inspiration can come at any moment, by looking at fragments of “old, rusty, rusty, leaded, galvanized, painted, painted, torn off roofs”. From these pieces of metal, tinned and molded in the form of angular, recomposed figures that preserve the spirit of the material from which they come. Despite the utilitarian nature of the material from which the artist’s sculptures are made, the material is in keeping with the artist’s concept.

The artwork “Accident (Anatomy Lesson)” comes from the collection of Mr. Andrei Herczeg, an important supporter of the arts in the western region, and initiator of cultural projects such as the painting camps organized in Gărâna, in his residence, where local and international artists enliven the atmosphere of the place. The National Museum of Art Timisoara presents this work as part of the MNART Open View project, thus continuing the dialog that we have with the collectors to whom we dedicate this project. MnART Open View is an opportunity to access the private space of these collectors, and through the Mercy Gallery, we make them available to the public.