Prince Monyo Simon Mihailescu-Nasturel Figurative Sculptures

Created By Prince Monyo Mihailescu­Nasturel Cast at the Fourth Dimension Art Studio, Inc. in West Palm Beach, FL The days dimmed into nights, and the nights darkened into years of black despair. Prince Monyo Milhailescu­Nastural, last in a line of descendants of Romanian Voevods (Kings), withered alone in his cell in an unknown location in Romania. For more than seven years he languished in a Communist prison; four years in solitary confinement. His muscular body grew emaciated, but his mind took on new perspectives. It has been said that the soul of an artist may only mature after he becomes aware of the temporal quality of life. Prince Monyo knew that ­ intellectually. A graduate of the University of Sorbonne in Paris, with a doctorate in ancient history and religion, he had listened to countless hours of ponderous discussions in the mind­jangling haunts of earnest fellow students. But the ecstasy of discovery was always nudged aside by his youthful lust for the carefree life. Only later, during his always bleak, but sometimes delirious prison years, would he begin to recognize that he possessed unique artistic powers of interpretation ­ powers that he would someday use to delightfully project emotion. Encased within the stone walls of a tiny cell, Prince Monyo the sculptor began to incubate. "I was alone so much, and had to find ways to keep from going insane," he says in a deep voice still heavy with a Romanian accent. "So I would fantasize about things. I could see shapes, and change them about as I wanted. The fantasizing was a power, I know now, that helped me find the value of the human race." Prince Monyo was born March 5, 1926, and for many years led the storybook life of a Prince. The reign of nobility had long been replaced in Romania, although, titles were still held in the European custom, and largely revered. His father was a wealthy investor and landowner, and Monyo grew up in the castle of his ancestors in the countryside outside of Bucharest. There were servants, and chauffeurs, and yachting on the Black Sea; fine wines, elegant clothes, immediate respect, high education. Then, in 1948, came the communists. Fear and uncertainty were predominant after this, particularly for Prince Monyo. Though his family fled immediately when the Communists took over the country, the still­young Prince Monyo believed he would be left alone. Certainly he was, indeed, living beyond the professed ideals of the Communist state. Being the owner of a factory that produced needed nails and wire for his countrymen he believed he was too essential to his country to be bothered ­­ up to the moment he went to jail. The memories are obviously excruciating for Prince Monyo, and he shrinks from discussing his ordeal in detail. Finally, in the early 1960's, through the social contacts of the Royal Family, freedom was wrangled for Prince Monyo. Even Henry Cabot Lodge interceded and persuaded United Nations to appeal for his release. After several months in the hospital where his once­powerful and stocky frame, drained down to 82 pounds in prison, was nourished by doctors, Prince Monyo came to the United States to join his family. Settling in Florida to recover from his ordeal, he quickly charged at life to make up for lost time. Even while living the libertine life of a beach boy by sun and by moonlight ­ driving race cars, even wrestling professionally ­ "there were always fantasies, emotions and turbulent memories from prison," he recalls. "To relieve my impulses I started to make sculptures, beginning in clay, just to reflect my thoughts." In 1962, while on vacation, he wandered into the artists' quarters in Mexico City, where he met revered the revered Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo and one of his students, the now famous Alex Duval. Duval was seized with interest as he watched Prince Monyo idly model a lump of clay in the studio. As Prince Monyo became more engrossed with his toyings, Duval suddenly exclaimed that he was in the presence of a great natural talent, and invited the Romanian Prince to share his studio. In an extraordinarily short time Prince Monyo began to win prizes with his exhibits; and collectors from all the world began to visit the studio to buy his works. In 1963, Prince Monyo decided to move to Toronto, where he now has a foundry, gallery and plush apartment, complete with heated indoor swimming pool in a three­story building he owns in the downtown area of Yorkville Village. His creations in rough and polished bronze, are on display in several museums around the world; and are prized in some of the most exquisite private collections. Some of his most sought­after bronzes are from his "Fiddler On The Roof" and Ballerina" series. He startled both the artistic world and collectors with such mammoth accomplishments as his 62­foot­tall "Flames of Life" abstract, in which brilliant bronze flames curl in a breathtaking arabesque, and his four­ton "Searching for Paradise" wheel, which emanates suggestions of Aztecan mystery. Prince Monyo's work ­ whatever its size ­ possesses haunting qualities of stunning Olympian energy (as does the creator of the work), while still maintaining a pressing sense of the fragility of man's affairs. Extremely prolific, Prince Monyo gives form to his inspirations even while on his frequent travels for special exhibits of his works in the United States and Europe; he carries equipment in the trunk of his yellow Rolls Royce and frequently begins feverish work in his hotel suites between public appearances. Prince Monyo in his work sincerely and dramatically reflects the emotions of his fantasy and his reality. So much so, that every human being can easily identify and reflect himself, with comfort and joy. Prince Monyo's first major collector was Samuel Roy who invited him to have a show in Toronto Canada. At that time prince Monyo did not have much money, ($3.75 to be exact!), but he managed to arrive in Toronto with a few sculptures and paintings. The show was so successful that he decided to stay on. Eventually, he opened his own gallery and foundry, and purchased a plush apartment in Toronto's fashionable Yorkville area. He filled his apartment with his own erotic art. This apartment was featured in both Playboy and the movie "Business is My Pleasure" with Xaviera Hollander. Invitations for the Prince to show his work abounded. One such invitation came from Edward Ludwig, who was opening the Acapulco Princess Hotel. Prince Monyo's work was featured exclusively there. Prince Monyo then received a commission from one of the leading landowners in the Bahamas to create a 12 foot "Jesus Christ" for the Santa Virgina Maria Church in Freeport, Bahamas. As Prince Monyo's notoriety increased, he made a move that shocked Canada. He made the first ever show of erotic sculpture and was promptly arrested! Prince Monyo and his work forever changed the artist's rights of interpretation in Canada. As a result of the publicity from this event, Irving Zucker, a well known Canadian art collector, acquired all the pieces of this erotic collection. In the late 1970's, after leaving his mark on Canada, Prince Monyo returned to the United States to live. He did one man shows and exhibitions in many metropolitan cities. During that period, Prince Monyo went to Italy and opened a studio in Piatra Santa which was dedicated to carving onyx. Then he undertook the task of presenting exhibitions and shows throughout Europe. This resulted in his works being included in collections of Spain, Italy and France, thus broadening his collectors beyond the United States, Mexico and Canada. His works are on display in many museums around the world and are included in some of the largest private collections. In 1980 he moved permanently to Palm Beach, Florida. Prince Monyo continues to startle the art world with such mammoth accomplishments as his 65 foot "Flames of Life" which stands in front of the Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, his rotating 48 foot "Eternal Flame" and "Flames of Life" and "Reflections of a City" which is a 16 foot diameter circle which rotates twice a minute on its own axis. In addition, he blends his mechanical engineering skills into many of his works in his highly acclaimed series entitled "Children at Play". The "Eternal Flame" was purchased by Mr. Daniel Tabas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and donated to the "Valley Forge National Park" where it remains on permanent display today. Prince Monyo is the only living artist so honored. The 48 foot "Flames of Life" and "Reflections Of A City" were purchased by Mr. Jack Beltz of Memphis Tennessee. Mr. Tabas and Mr. Belz each own over 100 pieces of Prince Monyo's works. Prince Monyo's bronzes are displayed at numerous public facilities and buildings and have been featured in several articles and magazines including "International Art Guild", "Architectural Digest" and many other publications. He has appeared in several movies and many television shows. Today, Prince Monyo has one of the largest foundries in Florida, and a gallery on prestigious Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. Most visitors to Palm Beach have seen the display of several of his sculptures in the exterior courtyard of his gallery. This display includes the tranquil "Lady in the Park", majestic "Towards Freedom", whimsical "Romance in the Rain" fountain and precocious "Nature's Prize". He has over 245 creations. Many of his works are produced in both life­size and miniature format. His collection is so diverse that someone entering his gallery for the first time may think that they are viewing the works of several artists rather than just one. A prolific artist, it is not unusual for him to begin sculpting on his travels since he carries his "tools of the trade" in the trunk of his Rolls Royce (he is an avid collector and owns four!). His other prize is a yellow and black BMW motorcycle...