The Osthaus Museum Hagen presents the solo exhibition of the New York artist, Edward Bekkerman. The museum, founded in 1902, initially under the name Folkwang Museum and today directed by Dr. Taifun Belgin, soon gained fame as the world's first museum for contemporary art. Following the tradition of its founder, Karl Ernst Osthaus, the museum's director is committed to showing "hot art", the ability to discover artists. With "Labyrinths of Love" by Edward Bekkerman, he has succeeded in presenting another important exhibition.

Edward Bekkerman's art has already hung once in the Hagen Museum, as part of the group exhibition "Russian Art Today. Joseph Kiblitzky Collection" in 2017/2018. Director Dr. Belgin kept in touch with the artist, but Corona delayed the solo exhibition. 

For the museum director, Bekkerman's work has an exquisite quality of a very personal style whose peinture, "is very sophisticated and refined in execution". On display are several series of paintings such as "Victories" and "Spirit of Dreams", which perfectly embody the theme of "Labyrinth of Love", as well as "Hats", about which Dr Belgin explains that he knows of hardly any other examples in art history of such a refined way of using colour. For Prof. Irene Daum, whose essays are in the exhibition catalogue, Bekkerman's art stands for creative work beyond established trends and multifaceted, universal motifs. "It is the enigmatic and the decipherable that make his art so attractive", she writes.

Edward Bekkermann searches for spirituality in his art. Alethea Magazine met the profound and life-affirming artist at Osthaus Hagen on the occasion of his Vernissage, to which he travelled with his family, including his brother, the well-known owner of the New York gallery ABA Gallery, Anatoly Bekkerman. In the interview, the artist, who works in New York, reveals how he had to struggle at the beginning of his career and that this initially resulted in the "Guardians" series, of which 3 paintings are shown - mystical creatures which he interpreted and which are fascinating paintings. One also learns that one can look forward to news, namely that Edward Bekkermann is preparing an exhibition of his bronze sculptures. One may wonder if these will also become mystical beings?

September 19, 2022

Interview Directory 

ART

Name: Edward Bekkerman

Occupation: Artist, sculpturer

Museums director says: "Bekkerman's work has an exquisite quality of a very personal style whose peinture, "is very sophisticated and refined in execution" .

Next: Hopefully his art will be seen more often in europe in the future.

"I thought about the title for a very long time and asked myself, what is love."

Can you tell me how you found the title of your exhibition "Labyrinth of Love"?

I thought about the title for a very long time and asked myself, what is love. We don't know and we can't really explain this inner feeling. But we know that we are all searching for it and we want love to be an important part of our lives. That's what these pictures are actually saying. There are so many people, singles who are searching and couples who have already found each other, who are going through this labyrinth because they want to be together forever.

Especially during the pandemic, we were isolated from each other. We missed seeing each other, kissing each other, hugging each other, being with each other. I think now is the time for us to appreciate that now.

Besides Labyrinths of Love, you also brought 3 paintings from older series from New York? I have already read about your "Guardians" and "Angels" paintings.

These "Guardians" paintings are from the 90s. I am looking for this kind of spirituality in my art. I believe in other beings that we don't see but that help us because we all pray for something. I ask myself, what do they look like? This is my interpretation of how I saw them at that particular moment in my life.

I didn't have the opportunity to bring the "Angels" with me. We wanted to focus on "Labyrinths of Love". When I painted the "Guardians" for the first time, I had to fight for my career, it was a time of helping and hoping. After that it took off - my career developed and the "Angels" came; very light and very beautiful. They are in my book and I hope to show them in another exhibition.

Dr. Taifun Belgin with Edward Bekkermann, 16 September 2022 , Osthaus Museum Hagen

©AM

"The paintings are my children, I can't live without creating."

You live and work in New York. What is it like for an artist in this mega-city.

I don't think it's been easy for any artist over the centuries. Now everyone wants to be an artist. I happen to be one of those people who had an enormous desire to say something, to develop something and share it with the world. The paintings are my children, I can't live without creating. New York is not an easy city, but it is my hometown, I grew up there.

I read that you also work as a sculptor?

Yes, I am also a sculptor. My father put that in my genes. Sculpting is like breathing for me. But developing paintings and defining your own language in painting is much more difficult. There will definitely come a time to exhibit my sculptures because I cast them in bronze; that's how I like them.

"People deserve to see "Labyrinth of Love". I hope it will bring that touch of wonder, warmth and hope to the visitors - we need that now."

It's been 6 years since you exhibited your work here at the Osthaus Hagen Museum. That's a long time to wait for an artist.

Yes, it was a wonderful experience. At that time I didn't think I would have a solo exhibition here, but life goes mysterious ways, but now it has, and I am very happy to be in this museum.

Will you now show your beautiful exhibition elsewhere in Europe?

We are negotiating that right now. This is definitely an exhibition I would like to show in another country, because people deserve to see "Labyrinth of Love". I hope it will bring that touch of wonder, warmth and hope to the visitors - we need that now. 

©Osthaus Museum Hagen

©Osthaus Museum Hagen, ©AM