Dr Edward Kanterian, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, featured on BBC Radio 3’s Sunday Feature on last Sunday, 12 November 2017, in an edition entitled ‘A Column for Infinity’.
The programme explores the work of Romanian sculptor Constanin Brancusi, in particular his powerful memorial to the First World War, the ‘Endless Column’. The piece is is no ordinary piece of commemorative art. It carries no specific reference to the dead of 1916 or of their heroic actions and their sacrifices. For in Romania, the first World War symbolises reunification, and some believe the sculpture represents Romania’s expansion and history.
‘Each time somebody from our street would die, a very long procession would be formed, and going all the way to the cemetery; and the endless column was there all the time in the background,’ reminisces Edward in the programme. ‘Under such a setting, death, in a way does not feel so bad any more, after all.’
Edward can be heard approximately at both 3 minutes and 13 minutes into the programme.
To listen to the full programme, please see the BBC webpage here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09dxbfl