FOLLOWING HUMBOLDT’S TRAIL
Acuri-Palme im Pantanal
Acura-Palme im Pantanal, Attalea phalerata, besiedelt von Blattfarnen und Würgefeigen
(Acuri Palm Tree in the Pantanal, Attalea Phalerata, Populated with Ferns and Strangler Figs)
2016, aquarelle/watercolor on paper, 66 x 34 in (168 x 87 cm).
The design was carried out after numerous sketches and notes taken during a study travel to the Pantanal natural reserve on Brazilian territory in 2015. The flood forests of the Pantanal stretching over western Brazil, northern Paraguay and south-eastern Bolivia and build the largest water reservoir of the South American continent providing almost undisturbed biotopes to a large number of species.
private collection
Acuri-Palme im Panatanal
The text on the lower right of this work is written in German. Following the works title it translates as:
The Acuri (also called Urucuri, Shapaja, Motacu or Bacuri, respectively) occupy a high rank among the more than 500 palm species of the neo-tropes. This particular species reaches a height of 8 meters and forms larger groves in the Pantanal.
Their panicle-forming fruits equal the much larger coconuts in shape and taste. Monkeys appreciate the nuts green outer paring; but the nuts get engulfed in total by capybaras, tapirs or peccaries if they fall down to the ground. [these mammals] would also only digest the outer paring and spread the unopened nuts with their feces. Hyacinth-Aras alone can crack the hard nut shell; vice versa these rare parrots can be found only near larger Acuri-groups.
[in contrast to most other palm species] the dead leafs decompose at the trunk allowing seeds of other plants to sprout in the turf pockets adjacent to the palm trees stem. Thus, every Acuri palm tree disappears sooner or later inside of a strangler fig tree.
Februar-Morgen im Botanischen Garten, Rio de Janeiro
(Februar Morning at the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, section from the painting above)
2023, oil on canvas, 508 x 381 in (200 x 150 cm)
On its western edge the well curated 19th century structures of the Botanical Garden in Rio de Janeiro merge with the jungle. Rhigt there, at the slope of the jungle hills sits a small pavillon overlooking the gardens.
Botanical Garden 1
During several days in February 2023 the views from this site have been sketched, first with gouache and chalk on paper (foto left) and later with oil on cartonage (foto below: 50 x 60 cm).
Based on these pre-studies the large oil-on-canvas-painting (fotos above) has been carried out weeks later at the studio back in Berlin.
Ilha Grande
2023, oil on cartonage 50 x 60 cm
painted plein air in the jungle of Ilha Grande, Brazil. February 2023
palmera real
(Königspalme)
Dec. 2019, oil on canvas, 78,7 x 59 in (200 x 150 cm)
View from room 401 at Hotel Austria over Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.
In November 2019 several sketches and watercolor drawings have been made at the site to study the view and the urban situation.
The oil on canvas painting has been carried out after return to Berlin, at the studio.
palmera real (sketch)
November 2019, aquarelle/watercolor on paper, 34 x 24 cm.
The watercolor drawing is one out of three different works on paper carried out at Ciudad del Este, Paraguay during a two weeks stay at the AUSTRIA hotel. On different afternoons the same view over the surrounding urban structures has been studied. The oil on canvas painting with same title originates from these studies.
Tyrell Bay
(Tyrell Bay)
2017, oil on canvas, 31,5 x 23,6 in (80 x 60 cm)
Tyrell Bay at Carriacou Island was anchorage ground of the Sirona for several days during a month long sailing turn up the Lesser Antilles in January/February 2017.
Lambé and other shell, Noni and Guanabána fruits, fresh meg nuts and cocoa fruits at different stage of maturation where arranged for a still life on the deck table.
The natura morta sujet in the foreground is complemented by another, more “technical” still life, two Anderson winches on the hard shell side of the vessel - a vintage Swan from the sixties.
The background landscape displays the view from board towards the South cap of Tyrell Bay.
After several sketches, watercolor studies and detailed notes from 31st of January 2017 this work has been carried out after return at the studio.
private collection
Zimtapfel
(Custard apple)
2017, oil on canvas, 31,5 x 23,6 in (80 x 60 cm)
Fruit forrest in the northern zone of Grenada Island. The timber in higher shelfs of tropical climate can be of rich floral variety. The mix of higher meg nut trees with lower cacao, banana and other spices or fruit trees is very usual.
This sketch shows a custard apple tree (Annona squamosa) within such a mixed plantation, two fruits growing directly out of the trunk.
Im Tulpenbeet
(At the Tulip Bed)
2010-2011, oil on canvas, 24 x 29 in (60 x 74,5 cm)
private collection