Contemporary Art: Frühbürgerliche Revolution In Deutschland/Early Bourgeois Revolution In Germany, By Werner Tübke

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - I enjoy contemporary art: The paintings, scultpures and other works are full of surprises. Recently - during a visit at Berlin´s "Neue Nationalgallerie" (driveby)  - I discovered an awesome painting, called "Frühbürgerliche Revolution In Deutschland/Early Bourgeois Revolution In Germany", by Werner Tübke, an artist who had worked most time of his life in the Eastern (communist) part of Germany.

The work, which has five pieces, stretches over a long wall. In spite of the size it is very elaborate and delicate. The painting (created from 1979 through 1981) is a study for an even larger work, a wall in Bad Frankenhausen, a small city in Eastern Germany. The larger work had been commissioned by then socialist government of Eastern Germany (DDR).  They wanted something like the historical legitimization of the labor movement. The title refers to the "Great German Peasant War", a social revolution wich broke out in 1524, the time of the Renaissance. But Tübke created something which displayes his own individuality. The artistic style of the painting is called "Magical Realism". 

"Frühbürgerliche Revolution..." is seen as the magnus opum of Tübke. The artist attested himself the "capability for utopia for backwards". Sometimes he joked "everything stays as it never was". Commentators praised  his "magical mastership" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and the mindful and sensitive play with shapes and ideas.

The picture reminds me to the paintings of the Dutch masters, especially of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. And there are similarities with Hieronymus Bosch. I enjoy the blending of classical painting with futuristic and fantastical effects. There is a lot going on and you can see many very different entities. Some elements  look like segments of cartoons and you can even see some science fiction elements in this picture. Some of the figures look like angels and demons but they also could be seen as robots and aliens.

                          Robots and Aliens?

I especially like the sphere which you can see on the top of this post. A tiny part of the landscape is encapsulated, but it has a crack. This element reminds of some science fiction stories where advanced alien cultures create a sphere to shield themselve or to capture something.

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But let the images speak for themselves. Enjoy.