Works of art in the university heritage

New technologies often overshadow the heritage left by predecessors, which deserves to be rediscovered, preserved, valued and promoted. For this purpose, at Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the work of art “Oh, Human” was reconstructed. The work - unique and of inestimable value - has the form of a diptych (a painting made up of two pieces linked together that open like a book) and was executed in ceramics, in 1986, by Louisa Yantsen  - ceramist sculptor, master of arts from the Moldavian SSR. 

The artwork renders an allegorical image of our world. On the left side of it is depicted, in relief, the figure of Zeus looking at the blooming earth, which personifies the human mind. On the right side, the goddess Athena is depicted, her face distorted with anger looking at the incinerated globe, which is the personification of a possible catastrophe. The work was conceived and realized for the republican exhibition "Moldovan Artists in the Struggle for Peace" (1986), and in this way the artist expressed her protest against wars and the destruction of everything reasonable and beautiful, created along millennia on planet earth. 

Luisa Yantsen was born on December 14, 1928 in the Russian Federation and comes from a famous dynasty of artists. After graduating from the Higher School of Art in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in 1950 she settled in Chisinau, according to the distribution of staff. The author was one of the most creative and productive ceramic artists of those times. Together with her husband Eduard Saakov, she created and left a rich and precious legacy to our country, but, regrettably, only a few works remained well preserved. The masterpieces of artist L. Yantsen are characterized by a heightened emotional tone, reflect an individual perception of the world and contain a set of values ​​of all times: humanism, spirituality, harmony of body and soul, wisdom and knowledge. The most famous is the decorative and monumental panel "The Meeting" in the Palace of the Republic in Chisinau, which is still currently the distinctive card of Moldova. 

For the ceramic panels "Departure" (1986) and "Tamer" (1985) - installed in the State Circus in Chisinau, L. Yantsen and E. Saakov were awarded gold medals of the Academy of Arts of the USSR. Louisa Yantsen was designated in the Soviet Union, repeatedly, as the best ceramist of the year. In 1980 she was decorated with the Work Glory medal and in 1987 she was awarded the title of Artist Emeritus of the USSR. She also worked with several famous creative people from our country, including Grigore Vieru, as a book illustrator. 

The work “Oh, Human” was donated to the University by the Union of Artists from Moldova. Until 2015, the diptych could be admired in the hall of Leonid Cobaleanschi Teaching block No 1, while during the overhaul of the building and in the subsequent period, the ceramic paintings were stored. 

In 2022, at the initiative of rector Emil Ceban, a collaboration was initiated between University representatives and Mihail Orlov, architect, member of the Administrative Council of the Union of Architects from the Republic of Moldova, who confirmed the authenticity of the work created by Louisa Yantsen, noting that the work deserves to be restored and exhibited. Thus, during the year 2023, works were undertaken to restore and capitalize on this work of art. The restoration was carried out by ceramist Svetlana Sugjda, artist, lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design of Ion Creanga State Pedagogical University, based on an agreement with Nicolae Testemitanu University and with the consent of the artist’s daughter - Julia Yantsen–Kurtu. Between April and August 2023, complex works were carried out: cleaning of impurities and washing of ceramic paintings, clay modeling of missing parts (molding, fitting, firing), gluing of detached parts etc. 

In addition to this, three other plaster works have been restored, reflecting various branches of medicine: pediatrics, surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, etc., and an abstraction with the image of the Central Teaching Building of  Nicolae Testemitanu University. The compositions were inspired and created based on photographs that reproduce the essence of local medicine. In order to restore them, surface cleaning processes, plaster extensions of the missing parts, sanding, tinting (color renewal), strengthening of the structure with plaster were carried out. 

In October 2023, the ceramic paintings and plaster panels were exhibited in the halls of the Health Sciences Library in the University Sociocultural Complex. The installation work was carried out by experts in the construction and restoration of heritage buildings. 

All processes of valorization of the works were coordinated by the specialists of the Health Sciences Library and the University Museum, with the support of rector Emil Ceban. 

It should be mentioned that six works of  author E. Saakov are preserved in Vasile Procopisin University Pharmaceutical Center Museum - ceramic plates with the representation of medicinal plants (pharmacognostic analysis of medicinal plant products), created in 1982. 

Olesea Dobrea, Deputy Director, 

Nona Soroc,  Main Librarian, 

Augustin Stepanov, Main Librarian, Health Sciences Library