Discover Brancusi’s Legacy

Biography

Dr. Doina Frumușelu is a chemical engineer, a graduate of the Faculty of Chemical Technology at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest.

She earned a first PhD in Geographical Sciences (Climatology) with a dissertation entitled “The Impact of Climatic Variations and Pollution on the Behavior of Aerial Structures of Electrical Power Networks,” defended at the Romanian Academy, Institute of Geography, in Bucharest—recognized as the first multidisciplinary doctoral thesis in this field.

Doina Frumușelu is also the author of two international patents studied at major universities worldwide:

• Patent No. 109392/1997: Installation for testing the resistance of organic protective coatings against aggressive gaseous chemical environments.

• Patent No. RO119750B1/2000: Method for identifying, assessing, and monitoring surface defects in concrete elements.

Throughout her scientific career, she has achieved numerous notable results, including :

• The application of infrared thermography to detect and monitor surface defects in concrete structures of electrical networks (1997), an innovative method at both national and international levels.

• The development of new laboratory tests to assess the corrosion resistance of protective coatings under accelerated conditions.

• The creation of a method for monitoring historical monuments using thermographic imaging.

• The first use in Romania of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to delineate environmentally aggressive zones for corrosion control (1997).

• Evaluation of the vulnerability of electrical networks to extreme climatic phenomena and eco-pedological risks.

• Development of calculation models to estimate the residual service life of concrete structures based on the chloride ion diffusion coefficient.

• The development of a restoration and conservation technology, without dismantling, for Constantin Brâncuși’s Endless Column.

• The compilation of an explanatory dictionary of geographic engineering terms (Romanian, English, and French).

Passionate about art and about Constantin Brâncuși, the father of modern sculpture, Doina Frumușelu devoted several years to the study and restoration of his works.
She participated on a voluntary basis in the renowned restoration project of the Endless Column, collaborating with two world-renowned experts: Barbu Brezianu, a leading Brâncuși specialist, and Sidney Geist, art critic.

After years of study and writing dedicated to understanding the artist, she defended a second doctoral dissertation entitled “Brâncuși as Seen by His Contemporaries and Commented on by Posterity” at the “George Enescu” National University of Arts in Iași, earning the title of Doctor of Visual Arts.

She is the author or co-author of 90 articles published in Romania and abroad, and the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of 30 books.
Her work has been cited in publications in Romania, Canada, the United States, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Russia, and Japan.

Areas of Expertise

• Chemical Engineer

• Scientist

• Geographer

• Art and Restoration Expert

• Specialist in Constantin Brâncuși

• Writer

Education

• PhD in Visual Arts, “George Enescu” National University of Arts, Iași

• PhD in Geographical Sciences, Romanian Academy – Institute of Geography

• Degree in Chemical Engineering (Chemical Technology), Polytechnic University of Bucharest

Influences

• Barbu Brezianu, world-renowned Brâncuși expert

• Sidney Geist, American art critic

Awards and Honors

• “2001 – Brâncuși Year” Medal, Târgu Jiu (Romania), awarded for her contribution to Brâncuși research

• Award of the General Association of Engineers of Romania (2002) – Electrical Engineering category, for the volume Romania, Environment and the Electric Power Transmission Network: A Geographical Atlas

• Centennial Medal of University Geographic Education, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iași (2004), for her contribution to climatology and environmental research

• “Nicolae Cernescu” Award of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences “Gh. Ionescu-Șișești” (2004), for the volume Romania, Soil Quality and the Electric Power Transmission Network

• National Energy Dispatcher Medal (2005)

• National Technical Museum “Professor Dimitrie Leonida” Award (2005), for the volume Transelectrica: Past, Present, Future

International Affiliations

• Member of the National Union of Restorers of Historic Monuments of Romania (UNRMH)

• Member of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BInstNDT)

• Member of the German Materials Science Association (DGM)

• Member of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE International, USA)

• Member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI)

Selected Publications

Scientific and Technical Works

• Geographical Atlas: Romania, Environment and the Electric Power Transmission Network (2002), Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest.

• Geographical Atlas: Romania, Soil Quality and the Electric Power Transmission Network (2004), Romanian Academy Publishing House.

• Transelectrica: Past, Present, Future (2004).

• The Influence of Climatic Variations and Pollution on the Behavior of Concrete Energy Constructions (2004), Curtea Veche Publishing House.

• Explanatory Dictionary of Geographic Electro-Energy: Power Networks – Environment (Romanian/English/French), 2009.

Art-Related Works

• Footsteps on the Sand of Eternity (1997), Constantin Brâncuși Foundation, Târgu Jiu.

• The First White Book on the Masterpiece (1997), Brâncuși Foundation.

• The Third Destiny of the Brâncuși House (2002).

• Brâncuși: An Endless Bibliography (2007).

• The Unknown Brâncuși (2011).

• Brâncuși in His Time and in Ours (2012).

• Brâncuși: The Beginner (2013).

• In the Service of Brâncuși (2013).

• Brâncuși in Romanian Exhibitions (2014).

• Brâncuși: Testimonies (2014).

• I Met Sidney Geist (2014).

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