Die Langbeinige

Wine is one of the oldest cultivated plants, dating back at least 7,000 years, with its origins in Georgia and Armenia. We are all familiar with the sight of grapevines, whether they bear green or purple grapes, and we enjoy the sweet fruits.

Grapes are the fruits of a vine, and as the vines age, their stems become more woody and robust. You could almost carve the grapes of this sculpture from their wood, but Daniel Bucur has chosen walnut wood, which much better suits the softness and curves of the sweet fruits. The artist has performed a transformation here, coaxing grace and softness out of the hardness of the wood.

However, this transformation also demanded a great deal of concentration from Daniel Bucur. He spent weeks covering the entire surface with carved grapes, patiently shaping each grape from the wood with fine knives. To give the grapes the perfect roundness, he had to turn and adjust the piece thousands of times, making precise cuts until the desired form was achieved.

Daniel Bucur's grandfather had a small cottage in the Romanian mountains. The artist spent carefree days there during his childhood. It was an old cottage, and its windows had a pink saw blade in the center for protection. These windows have left a strong impression on Daniel Bucur's memory. The saw blade provided a deeper sense of security that allowed him to sleep well at the end of the day.

In this sculpture, the artist used a block of maple wood and carved a stylized window and door into it using a saw blade motif. The surrounding wood has been exposed and sandblasted, creating a surface reminiscent of clay. The wall is symbolized by the untreated portions.

As part of his artistic journey, Daniel Bucur has taken a trip back to his childhood with this sculpture. The artwork aims to convey to the viewer the feeling of security and comfort that he associates with his stays at his grandfather's place.

Friendship is an abstract concept. It requires a considerable amount of imagination to represent such words in visual art. How does Daniel Bucur approach this? He thinks about what he personally associates with friendship. From emotions like feeling connected, being in the midst of life, and a sense of permanence, the image of friendship gradually takes shape. It's a philosophical process of introspection that precedes the creation of each new artwork.

The basic structure here is a solid oak log that somewhat resembles a sail. The rough surface of the outer contour was created by the artist with a chainsaw. The lower end is smooth, the upper end is frayed. Birth and death. Light and shadow. Everything that is a part of friendship as well. The piece gains weight through the red staining, the color of blood. Daniel Bucur has thus succeeded in abstracting a very complex concept to its essence.

In the center of the sculpture, Bucur has crafted two intertwined, delicate hands. This section was finely polished. It is bright, and you can see through and reach through it.

Friendship in the midst of life. An abstract but still fitting metaphor.