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Fantastic Visions - Kultschule, Berlin 2010

2010 starts with the first group exhibition project for Fantastic Visions. I will be exhibiting my artwork with my good friends Dennis Konstantin and Micha Colory Krebs at the Lichtenberger Kultschule in Berlin. We will be exhibiting a selection of our paintings.

Having looked at the Fantastic Visionary exhibition projects taking place in other corners of the world and the dearth of opportunities locally, it was often discussed how something could also be done in Berlin. Finally this was acted upon, and now the momentum exists to continue this with further exhibitions in 2010 and beyond.

Recognizing a synergy in our works and our relative close proximities, it makes for an easy step for us to come together and mount this group show. The exhibition is working under the title of the Fantastic Visions project that I recently launched.

On display will also be the first Fantastic Visions printed publication that I designed and edited, a catalogue of artwork from Dennis, Micha and myself.

We will also be offering canvas prints of any of the artwork in the exhibition.

You’re invited, so hope to see you there.

Fantastic Visions

Dennis Konstantin, Micha Colory Krebs, Leo Plaw

Lichtenberger Kulturverein e.V.
in der KULTschule
Sewanstraße 43
10319 Berlin
Berlin
Germany

20th January 2010 – 19th February 2010

Opening: 20th January 2010 19:00 – 21:00

OPEN HOURS: Montag bis Donnerstag 08.00 bis 18.00 Uhr, Freitag 08.00 bis 19.00 Uhr

Womb of Creation - Temple of Visions

I am very pleased to announce that I have been invited to exhibit in Los Angeles, at the Temple of Visions exhibition “Womb of Creation”. I am sending two paintings for the show and will be exhibiting alongside, Martina Hoffmann, Robert Venosa, Mars-1, Oliver Vernon, HR Giger, Mark Henson, Amanda Sage, Adam Scott Miller, Carey Thompson, Satoshi Sakamoto, David Heskin, Aloria Weaver, Raul Casillas, Autumn Skye Morrison & many more.

The Temple of Visions is headed up by Jimmy Bleyer who lives in the counter culture warehouse project, the Hive. Over the last couple of years steady progress has been made with establishing the Hive and Temple of Visions with the L.A. art world. It’s mission is to raise awareness of Visionary art.

The Gallery seeks to create a spectacular environment that will bring people together in admiration of art, and in transformation of self and community. In addition to quarterly epics, the Temple will feature a monthly music & visionary culture party, a ’boutique concert series’, and several consciousness raising classes, workshops, and lectures.

www.templeofvisions.com
“The Temple is inside”

GRAND OPENING:
January 9, 2010 from 8:00pm-1:00am
719 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
U.S.A.
$15.00 includes entry to The Hive Gallery

On Friday the 13th, I attended Strychnin Gallery’s opening for the Magistrates exhibition. This is a video I shot and edited for my Fantastic Visions project. I also had the chance to catch up with Tim Roosen again who had driven a long way from Belgium to Berlin.

Magistrates features over 20 internationally renowned artists. Works in this show range from a variety of different media such as painting, etching, digital painting, photography and sculpture, making for an exhibition featuring many unique artistic positions from pop surrealism to fantastic art, special effects to lowbrow, pop art to urban art.

Art Imaginär curator, Otfried Culmann, just sent a link to a slideshow video that he put together using photos that he and I took at the exhibition in Mußbach back in October.

IFAA – Exposition L’art fantastique Paris 2009

This Sunday, Anja Brinkmann and I will be flying out to Paris to once again meet with our Japanese friends that I exhibited with last year in Kyoto. We have both been invited to exhibit in Paris with the IFAA.

The International Fantastic Art Association (IFAA) is an artist group dedicated to bringing together and gaining more exposure for Japanese Fantastic Artists. The group was founded by the artist Shoji Tanaka and has so far exhibited in Kyoto and Tokyo with international guest artists.

This exhibition is the first outside of Japan with guest artists from Australia, France and Germany included. The IFAA intends this to be the first of many exhibitions abroad for their group. The exhibition is right in the heart of Paris, at the Association Culturelle Franco-Japonaise de Tenri, which is only a few blocks away from the Louvre Museum.

This is my first trip to Paris, a city that has been long on my list of places to go. Anja and I are both excited about seeing our Japanese friends again. It will be also an opportunity to meet some new faces, such as French artist Hugues Gillet who exhibited with the IFAA earlier this year in Kyoto and will do so again in Paris. If we’re lucky, we should also see few other people we know visit us at the exhibition.

Exposition L’art fantastique Paris 2009

Start Time: Monday, October 26, 2009 at 5:30pm
End Time: Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 5:00pm

Association Culturelle Franco-Japonaise de Tenri
8-12 rue Bertin Poirée
Paris, France

tenri-paris.com

Exhibition visitors peer at Siegfried Zademack’s artowrk.

It was the a last minute snap decision to travel from Berlin to the Rheinland Pfalz, the opposite end of the Germany. I wanted to attend the Art Imaginär exhibition to see some artists I knew and to try to meet some of the people behind the illusive Labyrinthe Gessellschaft. Everything magically fell into place and I arrived in Mußbach on Saturday.

Mußbach is wine growing village which has the oldest vineyard in the region, the Herrenhof. It was peak tourist season as people flocked to the region to sample the new wine. Almost every available courtyard was full with people eating and drinking. So finding a place to stay is impossible and finding a place to eat is a challenge.

The Herrenhof is the venue for the Art Imaginär exhibition. While it may now have a great role as the cultural center of Mußbach, it wasn’t always so. The local council were wanting to demolish the buildings as they were in a serious state of disrepair and they had no interest investing in the buildings. So the local residents took it upon themselves with their own time and funds to renovate the buildings.

The exhibition opening was Sunday, but I visited the exhibition on the Saturday anyway as I knew the gallery would be full with people and I would be preoccupied with talking and photographing the exhibition. I had wanted to catch my friend Peter Gric, but he had already delivered his artwork and left for the day, so instead I looked around the exhibition.

Otfried Culmann, conversing with Wolfgang Harms, in front of Viktor Safonkin’s artwork.

The exhibition was curated by artist Otfried Culmann who has already organized a number of such events. This particular exhibition was three in one. The main exhibition consisted of 75 artists from 10 different countries, from the well known such as Fuchs and Dali, to lesser known, all working in Fantastic Art. Second was the Woldermar Winkler exhibition. Finally was the exhibition of a special selection of Fantastic Art from the Westermann collection. One of the special things about the Westermann collection is that all of the artists are requested to create artworks in the same format, but they are permitted free reign in those constraints.

After looking at the exhibition I started to chat with some of the people that were there, and discovered that they were none other the organizers themselves. So it came to pass that I sat down to tea and coffee with Otfried Culmann, Gustav Adolf  Bähr, the chairman of the Herrenhof association, Gerhard Habarta, the publisher of the “Lexicon der phantastischer Künstler” and Lukas Kandl who organizes the L’Ange Exquis project. Later artist Michael Engelhardt came and joined us. Slowly, I was discovering who was who. It was also an opportunity for me to look through a number of the catalogues and including the “Lexicon der phantastischer Künstler”.

That evening we all met again with everybody’s partners in a fascinating restaurant that used to be an artist’s residence. The front of the house was decorated with stone sculpture, and various surfaces inside had been painted with all manner of pictures. With our large group and it being peak tourist season sitting around the table was very cosy. On offer was all manner of local cuisines and of course, local wines. We all had to be bright eyed and bushy tailed, looking our best for the exhibition opening in the morning so we did not make it a long evening.

I must heartily thank Kurt Kaiser and Gabriele Humborg, who devote much of their free time to the Herrenhof, for their generous hospitality and having me stay with them. It proved to be a full house with the Kandls staying with them also. I very much appreciate how accommodating they were.

The grand day of the exhibition opening arrived, along with a few more of the artists whom I had not seen on the Saturday, such as Bruno Weber, Peter Gric, Viktor Safonkin, Siegfried Zademack and Wolfgang Harms. I think Otfried Culmann and the other organizers were very pleased and relieved when the show finally opened. The hall above the exhibition was packed to capacity with the exhibition receiving some 500 visitors on the opening day. There were also a number of favourable articles of a good size in the press. So exhibition proved be a great success.

The day was a superb opportunity for the artists to meet each other, make new friendships and renew old ones. Many had traveled a long way, seldom seeing each other except at various exhibitions, and perhaps contact over the internet. It was a valuable time to exchange information and ideas, fostering the growing sense of community amongst Fantastic and Visionary artists.

To this end, the Fantastic Art project in Viechtach was mentioned several times. I discovered that there was already dialogue between Viechtach and Mußbach and that a delegation, including the Mayor of Viechtach and artist Reinhard Schmid would be visiting the Art Imaginär exhibition the following week to discuss the possibility of the exchange of projects or the collaboration thereof. If such things come to fruition, then future is indeed exciting for Fantastic Art providing a wealth of opportunities on top of those already offered by events such as Art Imaginär at the Herrenhof Mußbach.

Peter Gric and Siegfried Zademack

Art-Imaginär

Open from the 27th of September to the 25th of October 2009

Herrenhof
Mußbach
An der Eselshaut 18
D-67435 Neustadt an der Weinstrasse
Germany

Featured artists:

Peter Ackermann, Bernhard Apfel, Utz Arnoldi, WESSI Benderlieva Karlhofer, Myriam Bat-Yosef, Nicolaus zu Bentheim, Johfra van den Berg, Serge Brignoni, Alice Buis, Agustin Cardenas, Fabricio Clerici, Otfried H. Culmann, Salvador Dali, Doremi, Tine Duffing & Cocoon, Edgar Ende, Leonor Fini, Ernst Fuchs, Joachim Geissler-Kasmekat, Walter Grab, Peter Gric, Friedrich Gross, Fabius von Gugel, Joe Hackbarth, Veronika Hagen, Wolfgang Harms, Rudolf Hausner, Claus Dietrich Hentschel, Werner Holz, Herrmann Hoormann, Fritz Horauf, Emy Hudecek, Wolfgang Hutter, Michel-Claude Jullian, Edgar Jene, Heinz Jung, Lukas Kandl, Helmut Kies, Karl Korab, Edgar Landherr, Hannelore Langhans, Barbara Lenz, Ellen Lorien, Jaime Makinde, Roberto E. Matta, Max von Moos, Hans-Peter Muller, Alexandra Muller-Jontschewa, Hellmut Neukirch, Wolfgang Ohlhauser, Erik Olson, Wolfgang Peuker, Dieter Peukert, Silvia Quandt, Tamara Ralis, Kurt Regschek, Carl-W. Rohrig, Victor Safonskin, Hundertwasser, Dietrich Schuchardt, URSULA Schultze-Bluhm, Ludwig Schwarzer, Cornelia Simone-Bach, Manfred Sillner, Ernst Steiner, Piero Strada, Charles F. Soehnee, Esaias Thoren, Elke Wassmann, Bruno Weber, Woldemar Winkler, Paul Wunderlich, Siegfried Zademack & Mac Zimmermann.

Iza and I at work on the canvases. Ok, we’re posing for a photograph.

This Summer I was called up to work on a mural project that would ultimately span two cities. Work on the project was conducted in the large warehouse studios in Lyon and then completion was on the fringe of Berlin at Teltow.

The project was managed by Creative Stadt, the German arm of the French company Cité Création. Since its inception in 1978, Cité Création has created over 470 monumental frescoes all over the world. These trompe-l’oeil frescoes are designed to enhance urban environments that otherwise have little appeal. Cité Création which started out in Lyon and have since adorned many building walls about the city. Many of the murals now feature in Lyon tourist guides and form an integral of its tourist attractions. While I was there I took the opportunity to explore the city and see some of these previous projects.

The first canvas I worked on.

I along with Izabela Nowak, were flown from Berlin to Lyon where we worked in a large warehouse through heat that I had not known since Australia. There is definitely a climate difference on the other side of the Alps. All of our co-workers were French. All had a better command of English than I of French, regardless of their protests about being unable to speak it.

It was a very interesting time being in Lyon, although after a long day in the hot warehouse, the only time I had to explore Lyon was on the weekends. I think old Lyon city would have been quite pretty until the 70’s when they built freeways along the river front and through Perrache. But some of the city’s charm was still intact. When visiting the Roman amphitheatre atop the hill, I wondered how often bored Romans might have been looking at the splendid view rather than the entertainment on the stage below. Shopping on the Perrache markets on Sundays was fun. Trying to purchase things when you don’t speak the local language is always entertaining.

How did this mural project work in two cities? Well, we were painting very large canvases that would eventually be glued to the walls of a building in Teltow. So when we were done in Lyon, a week or so later in Berlin I was busy climbing scaffolding and gluing canvases to the wall.

Working on the murals was quite interesting because the technique I normally use for my paintings is not what applies to this sort of work, when the artwork is many meters high on a wall. So you have work with the thought in mind that the final work will be seen from quite a distance. Colours and details have to be emphasised so as not to be lost. Sometimes, certain details have to be left out all together, as they will be lost or not contribute to the overall story that the mural is meant to convey. I very much enjoyed looking at how my French co-workers painted.

One of the canvases finally in place.

I’ve since had the pleasure to see some of their own personal artwork, and it usually bears no relationship to what they paint for Cité Création. It was also interesting talking to them as artists and we all understood each other quite well about the trials and tribulations thereof.

View from Harzer Str of the former piano factory that was later to become Atelierhaus Mengerzeile. (1967, Landesbildstelle Berlin)

For the past year I’ve had my studio here in the Atelierhaus Mengerzeile. And the time has come again for our Tag der Offene Ateliers (open studio day).

So I’ll be here with my studio open for all and sundry to visit, so you can see what I’m up to and what new artwork is on my easels. Yes, multiple easels, five. After last month I finally have all of my London studio materials here in Berlin. Many thanks to Paul Barnett, Daniel Worth and Pierre Sampajano for helping me out with unloading and carrying my things up to the fourth floor!

The studio is looking decidedly full at the moment with all of the boxes that I need to unpack, sort and then store. So there is a bit of preparation before the open studio day.

The photo I’ve included with this post is the Atelierhaus Mengerzeile in the Communist East German times, and is a view from the West to the East across the No-Man’s-Land where they were later to erect the wall. So there is a little history attached to the building. On display will also be a photo exhibition of the building and the wall during this time.

Hope you can make it to visit my studio.

Saturday 3rd of October 2009
3pm – 10pm

Atelierhaus Mengerzeile
Mengerzeile 1-3
12435 Berlin
Germany

atelierhaus-mengerzeile.de

Non Omnis Moriar – Stephanie Henderson

I first met Reinhard Schmid at the Dreamscapes Exhibition in Amsterdam last year. Through our correspondence since then, Reinhard came to invite me down to the opening of the “Dante’s Divine Comedy” exhibition in Viechtach.

Viechtach is a 900 year old town situated in the picturesque countryside of the Bavarian Forest. Some time ago the town of Viechtach decided to put the Alt Rathaus (Old Town Hall) to use as a gallery. Its program of exhibitions have a special emphasis upon Fantastic art. And so the “Dante’s Divine Comedy” exhibition curated by artist and publisher Claus Brusen fitted quite naturally.

The gallery is right on the old town square, which is not surprising since it was formerly the Rathaus. The upper floor of the Alt Rathaus has been superbly renovated as a large professional standard gallery space.

The exhibition looked impressive, with the selection of artwork being of an excellent quality. I arrived early before the throng and so was afforded a good overview of the exhibition. There were quite a few names I was already familiar with. It is always interesting to see new works from them.

Claus Brusen the curator of the exhibition arrived and so I finally met him face to face. There are so many of us now connected via the internet across the world, and it is not so often that we physically meet. However events like Claus’ present an opportunity to make that a reality. Claus generously gave me an exhibition catalog.

With a pen in one hand and the catalog in the other, seeking signatures was a great way to break the ice. Claus was a willing accomplice and directed many of the artists to me. By the time the opening formalities were about to commence I’d already met almost all of the exhibiting artists. There were a couple however that I’d already had contact with, such as Tim Roosen via Facebook and then Olivier Zappelli, a Swiss artist whom I had also met at the exhibition in Amsterdam last year.

Dante Exhibition Opening

The exhibition was officially opened by the Mayor, Georg Bruckner, with Reinhard introducing the artists and Horst Dieter Greyer giving us his philosophical musings on Fantastic art. It was also announced at the opening that the exhibition had already been a success to an extent, having an article with a photograph published in the Süddeutsche Newspaper. This was of special note because it is one of the largest in Germany, and it usually ignores regional events and focuses on Munich.

With the formalities finished, the mass of people which had filled the gallery to capacity on the warm Summer evening were very glad to move again and examine the artworks. Visitors had come from far and wide to see the exhibition.

After having our fill of art, we migrated down to the courtyard for our fill of Bavarian beer and food. Here over drinks and a meal was the chance for the artists to get know each other better. I had the opportunity to meet Ines Scheppach from the Neue Meister group and find out a little more about them as I had seen the group mentioned here and there around Germany. Like Ines, I talked to others and found out more of the state of our Fantastic Art movement.

The night slipped by with the beginning of new friendships and strengthening community. However many had long journeys ahead of them in the morning and so they decided to slip off to the Hotel Schmaus a few doors down from the exhibition where the town council had accommodated them.

In the morning many of the conversations continued again over breakfast. There was a lingering feeling of if only there was a little more time for us all to sit together and talk. A number of us did linger long enough in the day to see the Gläsernen Scheune, a life’s work museum and gallery from Reinhard’s father dedicated to the local Bavarian myths and stories. Those of us left in Viechtach that afternoon then congregated at the Cafe Isis where Reinhard has his Tarot series on display.

I think there will be many more exhibitions such as “Dante’s Divine Comedy” worth the the travel to Viechtach judging by the conversations and the things I saw that weekend. I believe Viechtach’s Fantastic Art project will grow from strength to strength in the years to come as their reputation as a host of professional and high quality events and exhibitions spreads.

2nd August – 27th September
Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm
Entry Free

Altes Rathaus
Viechtach
Bavaria
Germany

+49 9942 1661

Erik Heyninck has posted a selection of Zdzislaw Beksinski’s paintings with some very fine detailed enlargements. I’m one of those people that when visiting a museum, like to get up as close as possible to the paintings before the security pounce and study every fine brush stroke. Having no ready access to any originals of Beksinski’s artwork, it offers a superb insight into his technique.

There are themes that have uncomfortable atmospheres. Many of the intertwined bodies / coprses imply claustrophobic, or co-depedent relationships. Dessicated bodies or corpses impress a sense of morbidity.

Other times I see him looking away from the temporal realm up to limitless celestial ones. What is the meaning of Death, blood and Decay?

His works tell the mark of time, the experience of life, and the realisation of mortality. But the sometimes, the hint of something else beyond.

Dutch collector Rardy Van Soest is of the opinion that Beksinski’s painting (below) was a foretelling of his own murder, when you look at the trail of blood leading up the stairs to a celestial world away from earthen decay.