German
Basic data
Hundertwasser was an Austrian painter, architect and environmental activist who is now considered one of the most popular European artists of post-war modernism.
- Civil name: Friedensreich Stowasser
- Born: 15 December 1928
- Place of birth: Vienna, Austria
- Died on: 19 February 2000
- Nationality: Austrian
- Studied at: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
- Similar artists: Horst Janssen, Dieter Roth, Egon Schiele, Paul Klee, Victor Vasarely
- Era: Modern art
As part of the international Parisian artistic avant-garde in the 1950s, Hundertwasser developed a unique visual language. He is known for his compositions consisting of intensely bright colors, distorted spiral lines, organic shapes, and handmade embellishments that, in addition to architectural ciphers, especially often reflect analogies to nature. In addition, he used a wide variety of colors in his paintings, such as watercolors, oil paints, or glossy varnishes, which he placed next to each other in such a way that they contrasted not only in their colorfulness, but also in their texture.
Hundertwasser Art For Sale
Biography
Friedensreich Hundertwasser, born Friedrich Stowasser on December 15, 1928 in Vienna, was an Austrian artist who became known as a painter, architect and environmentalist. His work is characterized by colourful, organic forms and a strong connection to nature.
Childhood & youth
Hundertwasser grew up in Vienna. His father, a technical civil servant, died in 1929, so he was brought up alone by his mother Elsa. During the Second World War, he had to fear persecution due to his Jewish origins; 69 of his relatives were deported and murdered. These traumatic experiences shaped his later commitment to peace and the environment.
Studies and artistic development
After graduating from high school in 1948, Hundertwasser attended the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts for three months, but broke off his studies to go traveling. In Florence, he met the French artist René Brô, with whom he traveled to Paris. There he developed his own style, characterized by bright colors and the characteristic spiral that appears in many of his works. His first exhibition took place in 1952 at the Art Club Vienna.
Breakthrough and architectural projects
Hundertwasser gained international recognition in the 1950s. He criticized monotonous architecture and advocated a more natural and humane way of building. His best-known architectural work is the Hundertwasser House in Vienna, a colorful residential building with uneven floors, green roofs and trees growing out of the windows. This project, completed in 1985, attracted worldwide attention.
Later career and ecological commitment
Hundertwasser was committed to environmental protection throughout his life. He propagated the humus toilet and advocated green roofs and individual façade designs. In the 1970s, he acquired land in New Zealand, where he planted over 100,000 native trees and tried to live in harmony with nature. His ecological ethos was also incorporated into his art and architecture, favoring natural forms and materials.
Legacy
Friedensreich Hundertwasser died on February 19, 2000 on board the Queen Elizabeth 2 off Brisbane. He was buried in New Zealand on his property in the “Garden of the Happy Dead” under a tulip tree. His artistic and ecological legacy lives on in his numerous works and buildings, which are appreciated worldwide for their uniqueness and harmonious relationship with nature.
Exhibitions
- 13.12.2021 - 26.02.2023 Sport, Spiel, Spaß – Kunsthalle Würth, Schwäbisch Hall.
- 24.09.2021 - 30.01.2022 Sammlung Miessl - Stadtgalerie Klagenfurt.
- 09.05.2021 - 12.09.2021 Hundertwasser – Nordiska Akvarellmuseet – The Nordic Watercolour Museum, Skarhamn.
- 21.02.2020 - 10.01.2021 Hundertwasser – Schiele Imagine Tomorrow – Leopold Museum, Vienna.
- 01.03.2020 - 23.01.2021 Østerriksk Kunst Fra Sammlung Fürth – Galleri Würth, Hagan, Norway.
- 30.11.2019 - 13.04.2020 The Tip oft he Iceberg – Museum der Moderne, Salzburg.
- 28.11.2019 - 11.01.2020 Zauberhafte Bilder – Galerie Kovacek, Vienna.
- 18.10.2019 - 17.11.2019 POSTCARD RELOADED - Kunstraum Potsdam c/o Waschhaus.
- 03.11.2018 - 25.11.2018 Hundertwasser in Bad Soden - Stadtgalerie Bad Soden.
- 19.02.2016 - 30.06.2016 RENDEZVOUS. Meisterwerke aus der Sammlung Essl - ESSL MUSEUM Klosterneuburg.
- 22.07.2015 - 18.10.2015 ARTISTS AND PROPHETS. SCHIELE, HUNDERTWASSER, KUPKA, BEUYS AND OTHERS - National Gallery, Prague.
- 01.02.2015 - 10.05.2015 Hundertwasser. Lebenslinien - Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum, Hagen.
- 20.10.2012 - 17.02.2013 Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Gegen den Strich - Kunsthalle Bremen.
Awards
- 1997: Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria.
- 1988: Medal of Honour of the Federal Capital Vienna.
- 1985: Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
- 1980: Grand Austrian State Prize for Fine Arts.
- 1961: Mainichi-Preis, Tokyo.
- 1959: Sanbra-Preis at the V. Biennale, São Paulo.
Films
- Hundertwassers Regentag, by Peter Schamoni, 45min, Germany 1972.
Literature
- Planet Hundertwasser, Georgia Illetschko, Munich 2012.
- Hundertwasser. Pierre Restany, New York 2008
- Die Macht der Kunst. Hundertwasser. Der Maler-König mit den fünf Häuten, Pierre Restany, Cologne 1998.
Collections
Germany
- Essen - Museum Folkwang
- Hamburg - Hamburger Kunsthalle
- Hanover - Sprengel Museum
- Munich - Pinakothek der Moderne
Austria
- Salzburg - Museum der Moderne Rupertinum
- Vienna - Albertina
- Vienna - Belvedere
- Vienna - MUMOK Wien
USA
- New York - Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Weblinks
- Official Website of the artist.
- Hundertwasser Kunstaspekte exhibition and collection overview.
