The descent of the statues from the pedestal does not go unnoticed and without consequences. Even when this happens, it is not for overtly political or ideological reasons, however absurd they may be, such as the infamous global “culture cancellation” movement, but for (in)structural-administrative reasons or supposedly postmodern reinterpretations with borderline, unaesthetic and unethical . This recently happened in Cluj, the traditional cultural capital of Transylvania, the “city of five stars”, with the collapse of the pedestal and the destruction of the vegetation around the monument to the Ardelan School. The intervention took place within the framework of a new city project for the reconstruction of the space – inevitable, symbolic and full of cultural and historical stakes – around the central building of Babes-Bolyai University. The traditional academic spiritual axis of the city.

However, the statuary group of the Ardel School was/is one of the most harmonious, consensual and beloved landmarks of Cluj, as historian Sorin Mitu sensitively describes in a public petition launched for the complete restoration of this architectural ensemble.

In 2018, after an international project competition organized by the Romanian Order of Architects for the development of Mihail Kogelnicianu Street in Cluj, the winner was the solution proposed by the Mossfern Arhitectura team under the direction of the architect Mr. Macalic Arnold Erne. In their conclusions, the jury praised “the respectful approach of this project to the built heritage in terms of visibility and emphasis on its most valuable components”, the care and delicacy of the interventions, the “added value to the existing monuments” and the “attention to the architectural history and urban planning of the places”.

But with regard to the monument to the Ardelan school, these principles were grossly and inexplicably violated. Although the winning project did not involve the dismantling of the pedestal of the sculptural group of the Ardelain school, and its trace can be seen on all the panels, at the beginning of 2023 the architectural ensemble underwent these brutal interventions. After the removal of the original plinth and the surrounding vegetation, the famous monument of the Ardelain school, by Romulus Laday, was altered and reduced in size. Literally and figuratively. And implicitly, its symbolism and relevance for the life of the fortress.

What does this architectural ensemble of the Ardelan School represent for the community of Cluj?

The luminaries of the Transylvanian school: “founding fathers of the nation”

The monument of the Ardelen school in Cluj, which is decisive for Romanian spirituality in Transylvania, marks a double foundation in different time horizons.

From a historical point of view, the statue group represents three of the “Corifeii Școlii Ardelene”, Petru Mayor, Geoge Sinkai and Samuel Mica, activists of the cultural and political movement for the emancipation of the Romanian nation in the 18th century. Monks-scientists-educators, philologists, theologians, philosophers and historians, Coryphs were spiritual fighters for the rights and freedoms of Transylvanian Romanians, founders of Romanian schools and the School. Their work is related to the theme of Latinism, including the introduction of the Latin script that we all use, the theme of the continuity and unity of the Romanian people, their national project of Christian enlightenment inspired by the European and universal breath.

The luminaries of the Ardelan school are the “founding fathers of the nation,” as historian Kornel Sigmiryan respectfully calls them.

From an artistic point of view, the monument is another moment of foundation. It is associated with the name of Romulus Ladea, the founder of the modern school of fine arts in Transylvania after the Great Union in the interwar period. An original sculptor and outstanding teacher, as described by the art historian Mircea Szok, a student of Pachurea and Brancusi, Romulus Ladeia mentored many generations of Transylvanian, Romanian and Hungarian sculptors for a short time. The sculpture of the Ardel School, among his last works of monumental art, remains a model for Romanian sculpture on a European scale. Masterpiece.

The monument was erected in front of Babes Bolaya University in 1973, three years after the death of Master Ladea. Its construction under the conditions of a full communist regime is a sign of a paradoxical victory. This became possible at the end of the period of partial openness, liberalization and ideological weakening of the regime. However, the Romanian Church, united with Rome, Greek-Catholic, from whose spiritual family come the glorious Coryphs, continued to live secretly, being banned from 1948, from the establishment of the totalitarian regime until its end, in December 1989. These “Orthodox with Western DNA”, as Cristian Badilice defines the Greek Catholic believers and their Romanian genius, and at the same time, we would say, these Westerners with Orthodox DNA were the bridge, vertically and horizontally, to Freedom. Dangerous for the communist regime.

At the opening ceremony of the Ardelene School monument on June 30, 1973, on the occasion of Teacher’s Day, students and teachers, officials gathered, and the rector of the university, historian Stefan Pascu, gave a speech about the significance of this monument.

As an architectural solution, the wonderful work of master Ladea was placed from the very beginning on a specially designed plinth-platform – another author’s work – which managed to perfectly emphasize the expressive characters of the Ardel school. Generous in surface, harmonious, stepped, subtly reminiscent of an altar, but also an agora, the wide travertine plinth mediated the meeting with the luminaries. It was a kind of spatial metaphor of the necessary ceremony.

It was only during the 2023 incident, when the plinth and plant framework of the sculptural group was destroyed, that the local press learned who was the author of this original work. 50 years ago, the architect Adriana Matej, former dean of the Faculty of Architecture in Cluj, had the honor of developing this “atmospheric platform”, as her eminence defines it, as a debut work, under the supervision of Professor Vasile Mitrea. Probably due to the lack of documents, the new Mossfern Aritectura team did not identify the architect Ms. Matei and did not contact her, as required by the code of ethics of this noble profession.

The project of the environment, original and original, provided instead of the grassy lawn familiar to us, a reflection of water, soothing, illuminated by reflectors, in which the impressive and familiar height of Corytheus was reflected. We hope that this idea is a starting point (or return) worthy of consideration for a complete rethinking and restoration of this architectural complex, according to the public petition initiated by the civil society in Cluj.

Since its opening, the image of the statuary group of the Ardel School as a whole has become symbolic. Iconic image of the city, cultural brand. It repeatedly appears in albums of modern art, on the covers of historical books about Transylvania, as the name of a publishing house. In addition, the manuscripts of the Ardelan School, precious historical sources researched by figures of the Cluj School of History, such as David Prodan or Pompiliu Theodor, are kept in the library of the Romanian Academy, Cluj Branch, on Mihaila Kogelnicanu Street, which is currently under renovation in Cause.

A place of happy memory

Therefore, before the urban planning intervention, which bordered on unaesthetic and unethical, the architectural complex of the Ardel School for half a century was a harmonious, balanced space, perfectly integrated into the life of the citadel. It was one of the defining symbols that marked antiquity Pay Luporumwhere at the end of the 16th century “the idea of ​​a university took root”, as the historian Ovidiu Gitta, dean of the Faculty of History and Philosophy of the University of Babes-Boliai, wrote.

For the community of Cluj, the Ardelene school monument is a high place of memory. Historical, cultural, generational and autobiographical memories are found here. Countless threads connect us to this symbolic space. Generations of graduates of the Faculty of History and Philosophy have in their personal archive, as a title of fame, the famous group photo from the monument to Corifeylor Skolia Ardelen. This is a memory of a festive, solemn time. A place of contemplative rest for students and passers-by or a playground for naughty children, located in the bosom of Corypheus, the architectural ensemble of the Ardelen School instills a familiar respect in all of us, fosters a relationship of friendly reverence. entire article and commentary on Contributors.ro