Berlin Drawing Room Blog

Mixed Media Field-trip: Fall 2014

Joanne Greenbaum's paintings at Galerie Crone

For each Mixed Media Workshop we take a day to look at contemporary artists engaging in mixed media techniques. This is a great way to get inspiration for the final project of the class and also to enjoy the experience of contemplating art. We always have great discussion about the art, with contributions from the variety of backgrounds we all bring to the work.

The Mixed Media field trip this time around was extra special because we go to meet artist Joanne Greenbaum at her exhibition at Galerie Crone and discuss her amazing painting with her in person! She spoke about the freedom she allows herself, when starting a new painting and not having any preconceived idea of how it should turn out. She does not make sketches but responds to the process itself. She also shared with us some insider information into the broad range of drawing and paintings tools she uses, often within one painting. Greenbaum likes to have a variety of mediums at her fingertips in the studio, so she can spontaneously choose to deploy different techniques. Everything from oil paint, archival markers, oil sticks, to ballpoint pens and more.
See more views from this exhibition, as well as other work from Greenbaum, at her website http://www.joannegreenbaum.com/installationviews.php

We also saw some impressive works on paper by young German artist Jorinda Voigt, at Johann König. Using collage, gold leaf, and scientific looking annotations, Voigt creates beautiful and poetic images. Find out more about this artist at the gallery website: http://www.johannkoenig.de/106/jorinde_voigt/selected_works.html

Death and the Maiden (Mixed Media class)

Last week in Mixed Media, we revisited a theme that originated in 16th century Northern Europe: Death and the Maiden.
Related to earlier Medieval motifs, such as Danse Macabre or the dance of death, the Death and the Maiden theme has an added erotic element. It seems the sentiment "all life ends" shifts to "all beauty must die". Rather than showing an old person passing away, these images classically depict a young woman in her prime, usually naked, being seduced by a death figure.

The origin of this theme is usually attributed to German artist Hans Sebald Beham.

"All human beauty is ended by death"
Hans Sebald Beham, 1547

"Mortal achievements will be destroyed"
Hans Sebald Beham

This theme reemerged in Northern Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, with the start of Expressionism. Artists such as Egon Schiele and Edward Munch sought to express this theme in terms of emotions rather than as allegorical. The figures in Schiele's painting "Death and the Maiden" feel very human, in comparison to Beham's figures, which are more like placeholders for an archetype. The embrace is tender and there is sorrow for death rather than horror.

"Death and the Maiden" (1915) Egon Schiele

"Death and the Maiden" (1894) Edvard Munch

This theme was later appropriated by feminist artists in the 1970's, such as Ana Mendieta, giving the figure of the maiden a much more assertive role. The maiden embraces death and perhaps derives some mysterious and potent power from this interaction, rather than succumbing. The title of this work by Mendieta, "On Giving Life," suggests a reversal of roles. She is bestowing life onto the death figure, rather than the skeleton bestowing death onto her. In both Mendieta and Abromovic's performances, the role of the maiden is played by the artist herself.

"On Giving Life" 1975, Ana Mendieta

"Nude with Skeleton" 2002, Marina Abromovic

Documentation: Berlin Drawing Room Exhibition

Thank you everyone who came out to the first ever Berlin Drawing Room Exhibition! And a big round of applause for all of the participants!

All in all we had over 30 participants, contributing drawings, paintings and collages. I didn't count but we must have also had at least 100 visitors, as we were busy from 2-8pm.

In case you missed it, or you just want to relive the glory, here are some photos from the event!