Norbert Tadeusz

Norbert Tadeusz (1940-2011) is considered one of the most important representatives of representational painting and figuration in Germany. His work has been presented in major solo exhibitions, including the Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf and the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. Works by Tadeusz are in the collections of highly respected museums, such as the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.

Born in Dortmund, Tadeusz studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy in the 1960s in Joseph Beuys' master class, among others. Most of his fellow students, such as Imi Knoebel or Katharina Sieverding, pursued conceptual, minimalist or abstract works.

But Tadeusz consistently devoted himself to figurative painting and thus took a special position - he became famous for his idiosyncratic pictorial language. Later he was himself a professor at the Düsseldorf Academy, among others, and with his idiosyncratic artistic approach had a considerable influence on the Düsseldorf art scene.

The artist's themes revolve significantly around the tense relationship between space and body or space and object. His works implement this relationship in a new way.

The choice of perspective is a characteristic feature of Tadeusz's work.

It is unusual. Usually a scene is slightly distorted or depicted from a bird's eye view. This makes many depicted scenes seem unreal and surreal.

The eye needs a short moment to orient itself in the compositions. If one sees bodies, such as nudes, in the works, they often writhe in extreme positions or are shown from strange perspectives. It is similar with his views of objects, still lifes or interiors, they too are usually presented from irritating perspectives.

Tadeusz combines to this and varies other features - creating a special atmosphere in the picture!These include an intense color scheme, light direction in the picture or the use of reflection effects.

»What art is - not imitation of nature, but making visible the inner structure through the creative power of the artist.« – Norbert Tadeusz