Berlin - The first Chancellor of theFederal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, is the centerpoint ofan art exhibition in Berlin. Various artists have made over 100portraits such as paintings, busts, drawings and watercolors, as wellmedals and coins. He was born in Köln on January 6, 1876 anddied on April 19, 1967.
Adenauer was after the World War II the first headof government in West Germany. The relentless policy of theChristian-Democrat statesmen built the foundation for Germany's roadto democracy. In the exhibition were to be seen the works ofsignificant men and women artists: Oskar Kokoschka, GrahamSutherland, Arno Breker, Salvador Dali, Ernst Fuchs, Mirko Donst,Gerhard Marcks, Helga Tiemann, Elisabeth Wrede, Yrsa von Leistner,Ernst-Günther Hansing, Falko Hamm and others. The exhibitionobjects came on loan from museums and collections. Also the Germangovernment, the Parliament and the European Art Foundationcontributed to the exhibition. The exhibition was opened by the CDUchair Angela Merkel, in the presence of personalities from politics,diplomats and business.
The president of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation,Professor Dr. Günter Rinsche, expressly praised the goodcooperation. At the opening also spoke a grandson of Adenauer. It wasKonrad Adenauer III, an attorney in Köln. The exhibition, whichtook place from January till the end of February, was also wellreceived by the young generation, and also got internationalattention. The exhibition was seen daily by about 500 visitors in theHouse of the Adenauer Foundation (Tiergartenstraße 35 in 10758Berlin).
Jewish delegation from the USA
To the foreign guests belonged a delegation fromUSA. The representatives of Jewish organizations visited the capitalfor several days during their visit to Germany, while on the way toIsrael. These men and women, interested in politics and art, wereguided through the exhibition by Joe F. Bodenstein of the EuropeanArt Foundation. He knew Adenauer personally, and was able to answermany questions of the guests from personal experience. Bodensteinrecalled the fundamental contributions of Adenauer toward theJewish-German reconciliation, and spoke of the friendship of Adenauerwith Nahum Goldman of the Jewish World Congress. In his speech onWednesday, February 14, 2001, he said the following:
Ladies and Gentleman,
I have the honor to briefly introduce you to theExhibition Konrad Adenauer in Art. My name is Joe F. Bodenstein fromthe European Art-Foundation.
The Konrad Adenauer-Foundation presents thisexhibition in its Berlin Office. The occasion this year is the 125thbirthday of Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the FederalRepublic of Germany.
I was fortunate to know Konrad Adenauer when Istarted my career 45 years ago in Bonn, the former capital of WestGermany. I met Adenauer, and I was quite familiar with many of theartists who have painted him.
Konrad Adenauer was an extraordinary politician.And he was for the democratic movement the most important person ofhis time in Germany. He was a strong ally of the West, and especiallyof the United States.
And he was a trustworthy partner for the new Stateof Israel. The late Nahum Goldman from the Jewish World Congress oncesaid to me in Paris: Without Adenauer, Israel would have not havereceived as much political support and financial help from Germany asit did during all the decades after World War second.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Beside his political career, Adenauer was a friendof culture and art.
But he was also a s u b j e c t of art.
Many famous men and women painted him in oil,pencil and watercolor, such as for example the Austrian painter OscarKokoschka and his British colleague Graham Sutherland. Then there areamong others the sculptors Arno Breker, Gerhard Marcks and thelady-sculptor Yrsa von Leistner and Helga Tiemann.
The famous Salvador Dali made an etching and amedal in gold and silver of Adenauer. And Dali's friend, the Jewishpainter Ernst Fuchs created a lithograph and a preciousmedal.
The youngest artist in this Exhibition 'ADENAUERIN ART' is Mirko Donst, born in East Germany in the Time of DDR. Wesee five drawings by him in this exhibition, using differenttechniques.
This fine exhibition would have not have beenpossible without the support of Mr. Paul B. Wink from theAdenauer-Foundation. He arranged this special collection.
He is not only a curator, but a well-knowncollector of Adenauer-In-Art-Items as well. To his collection belongAdenauer-stamps from round the world, medals and coins with portraitsof this great Christian-Democratic Chancellor. Paul Wink hascompleted this art exhibition with excellent, authentic works of artfrom the collection of the German Government, the Parliament, TheEuropean Art-Foundations and Museums.
Dear Visitors from USA,
You are now invited to see the different portraitsin the house. I would be happy to answer any questions as you goaround and view the exhibition.
Have a good time in Berlin and auf Wiedersehen,here in this city or in USA.