Living Human Treasure award for two folk art masters

Newsroom 29/11/2013 | 11:16

Two prestigious artisans of Bihor County, 81-year old Gheorghe Rada and 89 – year old Ioan Oancea were awarded the Living Human Treasure title by the Ministry of Culture, according to Agerpres who quotes the Bihor County Center for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture.

Master Gheorghe Rada is an exceptional soloist of classical and horn violin (a violin that uses a horn as sound amplifier instead of a wooden sound box, as the standard instrument) displaying a technique and virtuosity that earned him numerous national awards. Gheorghe Rada is also a folklore collector, composer and reputed builder of horn violins, the last creator of this instrument in BihorCounty and probably in Romania.

Ioan Oancea is an exceptional wood carver, who has practiced according to the ancient techniques specific to the Budureasa — Bihor ethnographic area. Over the years, Oancea has passed on his craft to a host of apprentices in the area, insisting on the preservation of the traditional woodworking techniques. Representative for master Ioan Oancea’s art are the minutely and skillfully carved dowry chests wherewith he has participated in countless folk fairs throughout the country.