February Bulletin: I stand with art
WELL, SOMEONE HAS GONE MAD.
Here we are, the end of February, time for another bulletin, another newsletter.
I had planned out what to say for this shortest month of the year, collecting notes as I went and making sure you’d get to read the best parts of my many musings. But it feels more than just odd now, my first draft needs to be adjusted in light of recent events. I was never one to talk about politics on my social media platforms and my art is non-political as well. I feel a lot and I think on what’s happening every day, anxious and sad, wondering, why we can’t live in caves again because at least there were no world leaders who acted as though the planet belonged to them and it was somehow their birthright to take much more than they personally needed, at the cost of others...always others. And yet, for me, it never goes beyond educating myself about what’s happening, and why (WHY indeed?), maybe sharing a link to a donation platform or two where people can help the people in need. That is not because I don’t care. It’s because I care too much and with everything that’s going on right now (apparently there’s another Covid variant hoppin‘ around? Welcome!) I find myself unable to handle all of it and discuss everything if I still want to hold onto sanity and be able to do my job everyday. Perhaps someone out there resonates with this. I consciously need to turn off my phone and turn away from the news when it all gets too much. I’m aware of the circumstances, not ignoring them.
Frankly, I feel like a sinner, like my work is „too happy“ to be appropriate right now and I shouldn’t be allowed to draw cute things while bombs are raining down elsewhere. Is it disrespectful to post what I do?
When I realized my feelings on this heavy topic I knew new what I needed today’s newsletter to really be about, instead of just telling you what I accomplished this month: Living in the presence of war (even if it’s a few countries away, there is the possibilty of it escalating), being on someone’s side and desperately wanting to help, but feeling helpless at the same time, being financially unable. Being an artist who feels like they need to make a stance, but also needs to process events in their own way.
WHAT'S THERE TO DO NOW?
My „antidote“ against evil was always trying to spread more of the good. The darker things get, the more I want to use rainbow colors and the happier my characters look. Not because I’M so happy, mind me. It’s because I want to remind myself and others what happiness looks like in those times when they need it most. I tend to use desaturated colors and paint someone in tears when I myself am feeling at peace.
That’s how it has always been. And I think there are - there NEED to be - different kinds of artists out there: Those who document history, who educate, who make sure we remember. And there are those, myself amongst them, who try and make people get through it while it’s happening, providing a bit of laughter and escapism. To be honest, there are days where I desperately wish I belonged to the first group - but it’s not me. I tried it once and I failed. I’m learning to accept my role and try and go on.
ART & WAR
There is more than one way artists have dealt with heartbreak and the concept of the fragility of life over the decades. Some works out there are based on the reality of war without most people being aware of it. In other cases, not many people are talking about the artist or are not even aware of the existance of the work itself, but the images show what happened vividly. Today I want to share with you two projects/stories/collections of work born from difficulties or even trauma that have most touched me in an effort to make you think about how you cope with difficult situations artistically. Today I’ll actively think about how my next projects will look like influenced by the year 2022 and how it has changed my outlook.
Disclaimer: This is not an in-depth art history article, but rather a ripple on water that might make you want to dive in deeper (learn more).
NO. 1: Tove Jansson - The Moomins
Many of you might know the Moomin books or even TV series, having watched or read it as a kid and being taken in by the charm of the hippo-like white trolls from Scandinavia. I know I was enamored by their little world as a kid, the storylines surrounding their family dynamics and seeing them face threats to their home - Moomin Valley - or their integrity together. Sometimes they would argue, too, having trouble sorting out their relationships and trying to find themselves amidst chaos...well, in the end they always do. But it was only when I wrote about the remarkable Tove and her work as part of my bachelor thesis last year that I truly understood how living through WWI had shaped her and that before she created the loveable Moomins, she was illustrating political satire comics (about the Nazi regime, for example.)
Source: Tove Jansson. (Left: 1944 / Right: 1943).
Covers for the satire magazine "Garm". Web version: Moomin.com.
But even when she left the political magazines behind and entered her world of fiction, many of her memories and feelings towards war have made it into the stories. There are moments where things turn very dark and sinister, in a way you wouldn't find in conventional children's books today. The balls of fire raining down from the sky in her 2nd book "Comet in Moominland" (1946) and the whole village of creatures evacuating their homes are a direct reflection of what Tove has known herself. Her black ink drawings make me feel the terror and confusion she must have felt, simple as they are. She was, however, a woman not to be broken easily and kept a hopeful spirit throughout her life. The Moomin family also partially represents her own - her strong and caring mother, Signe, and her slightly reclusive father, Viktor. Coming from a family of artists (illustrators, graphic designers and sculpturers) who were used to putting their emotions to "good use", it is no wonder Tove Jansson ventured to do the same. The other difficulty of her life indirectly discussed in her later Moomin books was living in a same-sex relationship with her partner, Tuulikki. The two women were brave and ahead of their time, but lived a secluded life on an island nonetheless.
Sources: Top Left: Tove Jansson. (1946). Illustration from: Komet im Mumintal. Würzburg: Arena Verlag. S. 231.
Top Right: Tove Jansson. (1948). Illustration aus: Die Mumins. Eine drollige Gesellschaft. Würzburg: Arena Verlag. S. 89.
Bottom Left: Tove Jansson. (1946). Illustration aus: Komet im Mumintal. Würzburg: Arena Verlag. S. 202.
Bottom Right: Tove Jansson. (1962). Illustrationen aus: Geschichten aus dem Mumintal. Würzburg: Arena Verlag. S. 131/143.
I treated myself to this biography about Tove, but there are many free articles about her on the Internet as well which I recommend in case you are now fully invested in her remarkable story.
NO. 2: Charlotte Salomon - Life? oder Theatre? (Originally Leben? oder Theater?)
If you are looking for memories captured in a unique way, you will sooner or later stumble upon the work of Charlotte Salomon (*1917 - † 1943). She was as much a painter as the illustrator of her own, short life. Bold typographic elements live in the pages of her partially autobiograpic magnum opus, setting the tone and giving a narrative as if she was looking over your shoulder. She has staged it like a theatre play and given its "characters" different names, but they are very much the people she knew during her life, including herself. It can also be viewed as a form of diary of 769 pages.
Source: Charlotte Salomon. (1941/42). 1915. Webversion © Jüdisches Museum Berlin.
Source: Charlotte Salomon. Self-Portrait. 1940. Webversion found on Wikipedia
As a german-born artist of jewish descent she had to go to exile in France in 1939, fleeing from the rising dangers and threats in her homecountry. After living with her grandparents for a while, she spent two years in a little hotel room looking at the sea from afar (age 22-24), painting away in a sort of trance that she knew she had to uphold to get through it. The war wasn't the only thing on her mind though. Putting paint to paper every single day, she tried to make sense of many things that happened to her, e.g. the past rejection of a man she adored, or that not only her grandmother had flung herself from a window, but the information - then given to her by her grandfather - that her mother Franziska's death was suicide as well. Charlotte was only 8 years old when it happened, but she had not known the truth until adulthood. She was at a breaking point too, but her trusted friend Doctor Georges Moridis told her to paint her pain instead of taking drugs to ease it, for they would not do. And instead of taking her own life like the women that came before her, she followed his advice. It helped her. After completing her series of paintings, Charlotte even found a friend and partner in a fellow german fugitive. They got married shortly after she learned she was pregnant, but was deported to Auschwitz soon after.
Source: Charlotte Salomon. (1941/42). Bild Nr. 482/483. Webversion © Jüdisches Museum Berlin.
Charlotte Salomon died aged 26, but she left a suitcase full of artworks which she gave to Dr. Moridis with these words:
"Take good care of it. It's my whole life."
After her passing, it was made known to the world so that her legacy would live on.
I just realized: My own 26th birthday is approaching fast (9th March 2022), soon making me older than Charlotte ever got to be. I can only hope to use the time that is given to me well, writing about my life as I go, painting as I please. She is an inspiration to me, because she let art be her medicine.
CLOSING WORDS
So, why does the cover of today’s bulletin state „I stand with art“, as well as the Ukraine? It’s because I think art has the power to keep us grounded in times of crisis and we should continue making it even if we’re doubtful. It’s a natural reaction to be scared and bad things can/will always happen, which is a universal truth. What matters is not stopping what you do and turn whatever you’re feeling into something of value - whatever that may look like for you.
I’m of the opinion that as long as you do something, it already has value. And who knows, one day it may mean something to someone, more than you ever thought it would.
Here is where I leave you for today, and thank you so much for reading! All of what I said above just came pouring out of me and I feel more hopeful now, having written it. I hope you do, too!
Here is to moving simply moving forward & having a resolution to guide you.
“[They believe] it is only great power that that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.“- from „The Hobbit“ (Peter Jackson)
Work corner
Following what I just said above (sharing joy even in dark times), I'll leave the process video of a colorful, vibrant ink painting I did this month here. Working on it let me be playful and full of child-like wonder.
NOTE: I did video thumbnail before the war in Ukraine breaking out. I don't think I could look this cheerful now.
Click image to view video on my YouTube Channel, or alternatively THIS LINK RIGHT HERE :)
Monthly treasures
My favorite things. Collected, discovered or experienced.
(This time it was my lovely walk in the park with Gina on a mostly sunny Winter's day.)
I'm lucky to have access to many beautiful gardens and parks with old, historical buildings in my city - like Cecilienhof Country House here. I adore it!
Reading corner
Book of the month: „The Betrayals“ by Bridget Collins, 2021
One of my absolute favorite new authors! Highly reccomended.
Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) - First confusing, but then entirely gripping.
Creativity of writing style & Language: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) - Different styles in one book.
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4) - Would have loved to know more about them, but they were full of facets.
Idea/Concept: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) - Simply brilliant and very much timeless.
Kitchen corner
This is where I share my favorite recipes with you.
Whenever I need comfort food, these cookies are it.
Potatato soup with bacon.
RECIPE - AFGAHN COOKIES
as made by my host family from New Zealand
Ingredients:
200g Butter
175g Flour
75g Sugar
50g Cornflakes
50g Cocoa
1 package of chocolate icing drops
1.) Melt butter in microwave. Add cocoa. Stir gently. Add everything else to the mixture, and at last the cornflakes (crunch them up in your hands a bit first). Form little balls of dough with your hands and flatten them on a cooking tray. It should yield 10 medium sized cookies, or 7 if you make them big and chunky like I did (see photo).
2.) Put in heated oven at 180°C for approx. 20 minutes.
3.) Take cookies out and let them cool down for just a minute or two, then, while still hot, sprinkle chocolate icing drops, pressing them down a bit to help them melt. Use a knife to spread the molten chocolate over the top of the cookie evenly. As a final touch, add a single cornflake on top of each to decorate!
4.) Let the cookies cool down completely, then put them in a container and into your freezer (yes, your freezer! That will keep them fresh and edible for months.) Whenever you feel like it, take one out, let it warm up to room temperature and eat.
And you're done! Enjoy them, will you? :D
PS: If you wanted to, you could exchange the butter for a vegan, plant-based product too.
