„Volumul contine referinte la o tematica si la o serie de personalitati ale vietii artistice (autohtone si internationale) mai putin frecventate in ziua de azi. «Actualitatea» s-a schimbat. Nu numai in sensul ca multe nume ale peisajului cultural local au intrat, printr-un trist, dar probabil inevitabil traseu al memoriei, in penumbra, dar si in sensul ca domenii ca «istoria criticii de arta romanesti si universale», «analitica imaginii», filozofia vizualitatii si-au pierdut relieful. Sa nu uitam ca secolul XX a fost caracterizat de multi hermeneuti prestigiosi drept o trecere de la civilizatia cartii la civilizatia imaginii. Ramane de vazut spre ce evolueaza secolul XXI... Oricum, pentru viitorul cercetator care va alege sa studieze istoria culturii romanesti moderne si contemporane, cartea de fata va putea constitui, sper, o sursa utila.“
Author
Andrei Gabriel Pleșu is a Romanian philosopher, essayist, journalist, literary and art critic. He has been intermittently involved in politics assuming the roles of Minister of Culture (1989-91), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1997-99) and presidential counsellor for external affairs (2004-05). He studied art history at the University of Bucharest and graduated with his bachelor's in 1971. Between 1971 and 1989 he had various jobs like researcher at the Institute of Art History, an institution of Romanian Academy, faculty lecturer in University of Bucharest and consultant for Romanian Artists Union. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989 that overturned the Communist regime, he was one of the founders of "New Europe College" an institute of advanced studies, and of the cultural magazine "Dilema" (now "Dilema Veche"). He worked as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest and is now a professor at the University of Bucharest, where he teaches art history and philosophy of religion. He also became involved in politics, serving in various official functions. Pleşu's early works revolved around art history and theory, but, in time, his essays, published in cultural magazines and elsewhere, became oriented towards cultural anthropology and philosophy. His exuberant writing style gained him recognition as one of the leading Romanian essayists of his age. Source: Wikipedia.
