RO:
Alt monument pe langa care am trecut de nenumarate ori si care m-a facut sa ma intreb oare ce o fi si asta. Multumita geocaching-ului, am avut motivatia sa aflu, ca sa va arat si voua.
Aparent, acesta este grupul statuar Lovinescu - Ierunca, realizat de Virgil Scripcariu. Monumentul este dedicat Monicai Lovinescu si lui Virgil Ierunca, cele mai importante voci ale exilului romanesc. Acesta a fost inaugurat pe 17 decembrie 2023 la Bucuresti, cu ocazia Anului Centenar Monica Lovinescu. (O sa va tot plictisiti de numele sau, dar acesta e adevarul, vreti sa va mint?)
Recunosc cu jena ca recunosteam vag numele acestor personalitati, dar nimic despre ei, asa ca o sa impartasesc cu voi ce am invatat azi, in speranta ca poate mai luminez pe cineva la minte:
- Monica Lovinescu (1923 - 2008) a fost o intelectuala romana versatila: lingvista, jurnalista, eseista, traducatoare, autobiografa si critic literar. A terminat Facultatea de Litere a Universitatii din Bucuresti "magna cum laude" in 1946. In 1947, dupa instaurarea regimului comunist in Romania, pleaca in Franta pentru continuarea studiilor doctorale. In 1948 este nevoita sa ceara azil politic in Franta datorita refuzului cererii de prelungire a pasaportului.
- In 1977, supravietuieste o tentativa de asasinat, posibil pentru militarea sa pentru eliberarea scriitorului roman Paul Goma. Lovinescu este asaltata fizic de doi agenti ai Securitatii si ajunge in stare de coma la spital. Dupa cinci zile, in ciuda recomandarii doctorilor, participa la conferinta de presa a lui Paul Goma pentru a denunta agresiunea suferita la Europa Libera.
- Cea mai importanta opera a sa a fost autobiografia intitulata "La apa Vavilonului", scrisa pe baza jurnalelor tinute de-a lungul vremii. Lucrarea trece prin toate etapele vietii autoarei, de la copilarie pana la revenirea din exil.
- Virgil Ierunca (1920 - 2006) a fost un critic literar, publicist, poet, jurnalist si scriitor roman. A debutat in ziaristica dupa incheierea studiilor universitare la ziarul Timpul, unul dintre cele mai importante publicatii bucurestene ale vremii. Intre 1940 si 1944 a colaborat la diverse reviste literare si cotidiene, dar in 1942, propria sa revista literara, Albastros, este suprimata datorita tendintelor sale democratice. Acest lucru se mai intampla o data dupa razboi, atunci cand scoate revista Agora alaturi de Ion Caraion, datorita unui articol care critica pasaje din scrierile lui Stalin.
- In 1947, primeste o bursa din partea guvernului francez si paraseste tara. Intre 1951-1974 lucreaza in acelasi timp ca redactor al emisiunilor in limba romana ale Radiodifuziunii franceze, si la sectia de filozofie si estetica a CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique).
- Cuplul Lovinescu-Ierunca a intretinut relatii apropriate cu alti intelectuali si scriitor romani aflati in exil, iar locuinta lor a fost deschisa personalitatilor culturale romane in vizita in Paris.
- Impreuna, au facut publicitate disidentilor romani in presa internationala, ajutand la ameliorarea tratamentului acestora de catre autoritatile din Romania.
- Dupa 1989, au continuat sa locuiasca in Franta. Dupa moartea lor, ramasitele lor au fost aduse inapoi in Romania in 2008. Amandoi au primit onoruri militare postum.
Un lucru care mi s-a parut foarte interesant la Monica Lovinescu este faptul ca aceasta si-a inceput cariera literara la varsta de 8 ani, cu un basm publicat in revista Dimineata copiilor.
Cam atata din partea mea. Luati si gasiti cache-ul!
Surse:
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Lovinescu
https://romania.europalibera.org/a/ani-de-la-plecarea-din-aceast%C4%83-lume-a-monic%C4%83i-lovinescu-arhiva-podcast-radio-europa-liber%C4%83/30568107.html
https://romania.europalibera.org/a/de-ani-de-la-nasterea-lui-virgil-ierunca/30785637.html
https://curatorial.ro/arta/grupul-statuar-lovinescu-ierunca-inaugurat-la-bucuresti/
EN:
Yet another monument that I've walked by countless times and made me ask myself what the hell is this. Thanks to geocaching, I finally had the motivation to find out, so I can show you.
Apparently, this is the Lovinescu - Ierunca statuary group, made by Virgil Scripcariu. The monument is dedicated to Monica Lovinescu and Virgil Ierunca, the most important voice of Romanian exile. It was inaugurated on 17 December 2023, one hundred years after the birth of Monica Lovinescu. (You will hear this name a lot, until you get bored, but that's the truth -- what, you want me to lie?)
I am embarassed to admit that I vaguely recognized the names of these two personalities, but nothing about them, so I will share with you what I learned today, hoping that I will enlighten somebody else as well:
- Monica Lovinescu (1923 - 2008) was a multipotentialite Romanian intellectual: linguist, journalist, essayist, translator, autobiographer and literary critic. She graduated "magna cum laude" from University of Bucharest's Faculty of Letters in 1946. In 1947, she leaves for France in order to continue her doctorate. She is forced to seek political asylum in 1948 in France due to the refusal of her request for passport renewal.
- She survives an assassination attempt in 1977, possibly for her militant support for the release of Romanian writer Paul Goma. Lovinescu is physically assaulted by two Security agents and ends up in hospital, in a coma. Five days later, despite the doctors' orders, she participates at Paul Goma's press conference in order to denounce her assault in front of Radio Free Europe.
- Her most important work was her autobiography, called "La apa Vavilonului" (unfortunately only available in Romanian, I think), based on diaries she kept throughout time. The work goes through all stages of the author's life, from childhood to the return from her exile.
- Virgil Ierunca (1920 - 2006) was a Romanian literary critic, publicist, poet, journalist and writer. After completing his university studies, he debuted in journalism at the newspaper Timpul, one of the most important publications in Bucharest at the time. Between 1940 and 1944 he collaborates with various literary magazines and newspapers, but in 1942, his own literary magazine, Albastros, is supressed due to its democratic tendencies. This happens again after the war, when he publishes the magazine Agora with Ion Caraion, due to an article that criticizes extracts from Stalin's work.
- In 1947, he receives a scholarship from the French government and leaves the country. Between 1951 and 1974 he works simultaneously as a editor for the Romanian-language shows of the French Radiobroadcast, and at the philosophy and aesthetics department of CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique).
- The Lovinescu-Ierunca power couple maintained close contact with other exiled Romanian writers and intellectuals, and their home was open to Romanian cultural personalities visiting Paris.
- Together, they promoted Romanian dissidents in the international press, helping to the improvement of their treatment by the Romanian authorities.
- After 1989, they continued to live in France. After their death, their remains were brought back to Romania in 2008. They both received military honours posthumously.
Something that caught my attention about Monica Lovinescu is the fact that she began her literary career at the ripe old age of 8, when she published a fairy tale in the magazine Dimineata copiilor.
That's all from me. Go find that cache!
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Lovinescu
https://www.womenonthemove.eu/catalogue-landmarks/lovinescu-ierunca-statuary-monument/
