German artist Elvira Bach, renowned for her powerful depictions of strong women, is presenting both old and new works in her latest exhibition at Galerie Friese. The show, titled "So Red, So Red, Red," features 27 works spanning from 1978 to the present day, alongside new ceramics created specifically for the exhibition.
The oldest piece in the collection dates back to 1978: a large-format oil painting depicting three beauties in red bathing suits. This particular work is marked as "not for sale" on the exhibition's price list. When asked about the source of her artistic motifs while viewing her paintings, Bach made a revealing observation: "I have actually always painted my life. But this has only really become clear to me now." She expressed satisfaction with this realization, adding, "I have never let myself be influenced by anyone - not by gallery owners, collectors, or other artists."
Bach's ceramic works also draw from biographical influences. On one plate, she has arranged thick, red strawberries - the fruits of her childhood. Growing up in Neueunhain in the Taunus region, she frequently helped an aunt sell fruit at the market. The colors of these fruits have become an important element in her artistic work over the years.
The centerpiece of her art remains herself, represented through the strong female figures that have become her trademark. Particularly intriguing is a relatively small, delicate watercolor from 1978 that shows a woman still far removed from the expressive Elvira Bach known for turbans and colorful dresses. "That was at the end of my studies, when the figure had not yet developed like that," the artist explains. Since then, her destiny has flowed through her brush and the colors she uses onto the canvas.
Her sons Maodo, 32, and Lamine, who died in an accident in 2019 at age 34, were early subjects in her paintings. Since the death of her firstborn, she has found the strength to paint him only once. "Grief comes in waves," Bach reflects. "At first, I couldn't talk about it at all. Today I try not to let sadness determine my life." A bright spot after this terrible stroke of fate was the birth of her little grandson Otis, who will turn three at Christmas. The adorable boy with blonde curls will surely soon appear in one of her paintings as well.
The exhibition runs until November 8 at Meierottostrasse 1, open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
