The three companies comporting for the execution contract to restore Constantin Brancusi’s Infinity Column – Turbomecanica, Aeroteh SA and Schultzer – are since Tuesday within the interval designed for signing the contract with the Culture Ministry and the World Bank has not yet offered an answer to the offers of the National Commission for Monuments.
Dan Ciceu, the director of the Implementation Unit of the “Cultural Patrimony” Project declared to MEDIAFAX on Tuesday that the Word Bank has not yet reached a conclusion and they are still awaiting a decision. The answer of the World Bank will allow the Culture Ministry to close the contract with the company that will win the tender.
On July 26, Turbomecanica had secured the first place among the competing companies and the World Bank had received the results before August 1st. Two weeks ago, Dan Ciceu stated that “If the number one firm on this list will not sign the contract on our terms we will appeal to number two or the next.” He then stated that the contract could be signed during 15-22 August.
The winning company will collaborate with Citex Targu-Jiu for the restoration. The Gorj bound company will arrange the yard at the base of the column and 1996 they dismantled to modules composing the column. Radu Varia, the President of the “Constantin Brancusi” International Foundation stated on July 27 that the institution he presides would provide the restoration yard at no cost to the winning company.
The restoration of the Infinity Column will be made “in situ” and it involves removing the 17 elements of cast iron that cover the central axis of the piece and restoring each part.
To participate to the tender between 1st and 30 July, the companies involved must make a deposit for at least 2% of the value in the form of a bond at a reputable bank, chosen bidder.
The restoration project went to a collective representing the Romanian Plastic Artists Union, last year. Mediafax