Monday, June 24, 2013

other people's work - part 92 - rudi hurzlmeier


I've been an admirer ever since I first ran across the work of German artist Rudi Hurzlmeier at least ten years ago when I found his Krahe (Crow) picture on a greeting card at Powell's in Portland and immediately went in search of more images. Even though he's both extremely prolific and very well known in Europe there's almost no information about him in English. The wiki page (after translation) says this:

After the demolition of his school career, he worked as a gas station attendant, among other things, male model, parachute Artist, autopsy assistant, Hotelbuskoch, tilers, gigolo, set designers and antique dealers.


Not much to go on but mostly enough. He maintains a fine balance between an almost classical western painting style and a somewhat twisted but mostly sweet sense of humor. Here are a few favorites - including the original Krahe, who you probably recognized.


If you don't mind I'll grumble a bit in between examples of his wonderfully wry artwork.


It's finally summer after a long winter and almost non-existent spring but we have to keep the windows and curtains closed all day because the workmen still arrive early every morning.


We knew they were going to replace the windows but didn't know they'd be removing and replacing all the bricks first.


The sound of multiple mortar saws is not conducive to my own artistic endeavors, but I can try to imagine being half as funny as Rudi Hurzlmeier when I look at his pictures instead.


Even though the windows are closed, dust clouds the rooms. No matter how much I vacuum, dust, sweep and wash, I'm sure this cave is much tidier. I've pretty much given up til they've gone for good.


I had to seal up my paints because brick dust gets into everything.


Just when we think they must be almost done, that there couldn't possibly be more bricks to remove and replace, they fool us by coming back down to grind out even more mortar.


I wouldn't mind so much but for the fact it's been going on for a month already and so far there's been no sign of any new windows. Goodness knows how long that will take. If I'm not going to howl, I may as well enjoy the dance.


If anyone wants to come and visit I tell them to look for us inside the densest cloud of dust in the city.



There's not much more I can say about Rudi Hurzlmeier's work that it doesn't say for itself. I hope you've liked it too. At least we can always walk along the beach and one of these fine days I may be able to return to those drawings that are currently under wraps.




24 comments:

  1. Rudi's work makes me smile, even laugh like over the clothesline in the first one. I can see your dear Crow's cousin in the second one.

    Wishing you much patience with all the mess of renovations, Susan. Hope the weather is good so you may spend lots of time outdoors. How about some plein air work?

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    1. The clothesline between the Alps still has that effect on me as well. There's another very funny one that I forgot to include. Yes, Krahe is a very close relative of Crow and my own longtime avatar.

      Thanks for your good wishes. I've tried plein air but I always get too distracted to concentrate but a fresh mud puddle and a few sticks still provides interest.

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  2. Very sorry indeed that you're having to suffer so much dusty upset. As for the pictures, that is an artist I must investigate further. My favourites? Difficult, but I'd go with the first and the fourth, by a short head. There's something so ridiculously funny about a hippo watering water lilies. Actually, come to think of it, lilies don't like being watered. I wonder if Hippo knows.

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    1. Since we can't really do anything about it I just have to hope that being graceful about the situation will have some benefit somewhere.

      I love both of those pictures too. Hurzlmeier revels in incongruities.

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  3. What a great post....between the art and the amusing dialog that you put between each pic, I am truly impressed . Thanks! :-)

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Nunly. Can I take that as your offer to come by and help me clean this place once they're gone? :)

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  4. I so want to comment on this iPad but we' ll see. I so loved each of Rudis paintings and saw more than a passing similarity in your respective styles. same wry humor I adore! and oh my, what a pain in the butt to still be dealing with this mess they seem to think their building needs! no wonder you take long walks. at this rate, you might as well walk on over to my house and take a break! do they say when it's done!? oy...

    well this post tells me you still have more than a shred of your sense of humor left! way better than I'd be! I'd probably have hurled a brick at someone by now, knocking them off their scaffold whilst breaking glass, heads and teeth...or so I'd hope anyway! I will keep you in my prayers, dear heart... I mean mantras more like but you know what I mean.. like when I leave a comment on your blog via my book. :)

    XO

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    1. I'm delighted you see a resemblance in what I do to what he does so well. I sure wish I'd had a better sense of humor when I was younger and a much more energetic painter. If going out to help them would get this done faster I'd certainly make the offer but, then again, there is that fear of heights that keeps me off tall ladders and rooftops.

      I'm glad you've been able to leave your comment with the book. Quelle relief for you.
      xoxo

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  5. YAY! just had to say that as I did it all the way through!!! xxxxxx

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  6. Yes, these are very good. Thanks for showing.

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  7. Great drawings; sad story. Thanks for introducing us to Rudi.

    Lots of flooding out west, including a little bit in Saskatoon; low-lying areas, no houses or businesses involved.

    Hope you are soon liberated form the dust cloud!

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting
    Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

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    1. I was very sorry to read about the flooding. I hope all is well with you.

      Our dust cloud will eventually go the way of all such matter.

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  8. These are quite swank, plus bonus points for reminding me that I have to do some laundry.

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    1. There's nothing better than the fresh scent of an alpine breeze..

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  9. As some Irish might say, he's a real character, hm? : )

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  10. Seems he also knows crow.
    the Ol'Buzzard

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  11. I love the cats reading together best. :)

    My laptop is out of order right now so I've been largely internet free of late. Heck, I don't know when I will back online again but it is nice to stop in and see you once in a while. Take care.

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    1. That one was new to me and very sweet.

      I'm sorry about your laptop - it's good to have one available but in many ways it's just as well to let the internet go on its merry way without us always having to be there.

      Be well and enjoy your summer :)

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  12. Ah, these pictures.... sigh.... i dream of some day producing something marginally close to being so lovely and clever and fun! it's a crime that your work space at home is too dirty to expose your drawings and paintings to. just a crime. may the renovation gods smile upon you and speed progress of the work. a similar thing, on a smaller scale is happening @ MH.... a job the carpenter told me would take them less than a week is stalled just barely begun.

    and I have a canvas shopping bag of purchased art supplies that dangles reproachfully from the back of the chair at my computer desk. one of my promises to self with the change in work (and dearth thereof) had to do with making serious efforts to learn to draw and paint. as i ricochet from one residence to the other, alighting briefly at the desk to do books once / week, I glance briefly and yearningly at this bag, with its seductive bulges where tubes of paint protrude. there are canvases and bins of pencils, quill pens and ink, colored pencils, etc..... stacked neatly beside reams of computer paper and boxes business envelopes, elastics and paper clips..... perhaps in winter....

    i know the images planted in your fertile mind on forays outside to escape the grime and cacophony will produce abundantly when peace and order return.... and i'm greatly looking forward to that time. blessings

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  13. Truth to tell, I still dream of being able to produce pictures marginally close to Hurzlmeier's work too. I mean the dog ones are absolutely priceless - perfectly obvious when you see them but still a delightful surprise.

    I'm hoping the staircase to the attic is soon done. Was it a ladder you had to use to access the space before? Seems those jobs never go fast and smooth.

    One of these fine days we'll both be able to find more time for the art projects. Yes, right now with all the commotion still continuing winter isn't sounding quite so bad. It's irritating to have to scrape brick dust off my work table every day :)

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