By Consul B.John Zavrel
Painter Birgit Sewekow with her painting "Summer Dream". The magnificance of colors and the joy of life in the works of the painter are her unmistakeable trademarks. In the background can be seen the bronze portrait of the artist, which was created by the sculptor Kurt Arentz
Berlin/Köln (bpb) The paintings of the painter Birgit Sewekow fascinate us by their magnificance of color and lightness of her art. In honor of her creative work, the European Art Foundation Berlin-Paris-New York invited the painter to arrange the 2003 Annual Exhibition exclusively with her works. "The discovery of this artist who is full of ideas is a stroke of good luck", says Joe F. Bodenstein, member of the foundation's board of directors. She can be ranked today in the gallery of great names of art history: Pissarro, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Max Liebermann &endash; to name only a few in this line.
The difference between her and these painters is this: in the 21st century Germany has too few citizens interested in art, who would enliven the arts by giving commissions to artists. In spite of this situation, Birgit Sewekow has created a rich body of works of art. Her demanding circle of collectors is considerable (info@europaeische-kultur-stiftung.org). In the exhibition at the Museum of European Art at the Nörvenich Castle, 100 of her paintings wil be displayed. (www.europaeische-kultur-stiftung.org)
The artist was born on January 2, 1946 in Darmstadt. Raised in a good family she was inspired already by her parents to become interested in the beautiful and the sublime. In her childhood her curiosity was directed toward the painting of the 20th century. After graduation from the humanistic Lessing-Gymansium in Frankfurt am Main, Sewekow began her studies in Hamburg in 1969. She finished her studies in 1974 in Berlin with a PhD in physics. While keeping in mind the realities of life, her study of philosophy, history of Greece and art histoy gave her fundamental impulse for the artistic work.
"Sun in the landscape of Arcadia". An oil painting by Birgit Sewekow. In a frenzy of colors, reality and surrealism mix in a paradise-like landscape
It is no secret, that it is more difficult for women than men to work as artists. It is not so much due to the quality of the works of art, as to the society in general and to the established art-trade conventions. Still, the name Birgit Sewekow can be added to the list of successful women artists like Käthe Kollwitz, Rene Sintenis, Leonor Fini, Helga Tiemann, Margret Stucki, Marie-Elisabeth Wrede and Elvira Bach. The artist is also engaged in supporting charitable causes. The German president Rau thanked her personally for her support of social activities for the benefit of children.
As an artist, Sewekow has no inhibitions from using unusual color compositions. "What I express is joy, saying yes to life, and confidence in the future" she says in an interview with Prometheus. The artist Ellen Loh-Bachmann is enchanted by the work of her former student: "Sewekow's ideas about the real and imaginary worlds mix together in her works. Impressions become expressions, at which the pre-conceived structures and contours dissolve in the fireworks of colors. The light rules everywhere, even in the shadows, which do not end in darkness."
Observing the work of the artist, one becomes conscious of the range of artistic possibilities of mankind. In no way do they end with the much renowned paintings by Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, George Braque, Renoir, Matisse, Maillol, Salvador Dali, Ernst Fuchs, Friedensreich Hundertwasser and many others. In every artist generation there are talented women and men, who, on the foundation of humanism, achieve essential values.
Copyright 2002 West-Art, Prometheus 84/2002