Internationally acclaimed artist Mercedes Helnwein is currently showcasing her compelling artwork at the Bensheim City Museum in Germany, proving that significant art can find a powerful home in intimate venues. The exhibition, titled "Watching from a Safe Distance," features 21 works including paintings, photographs, and video installations that capture everyday moments with profound emotional depth.
Helnwein's artwork explores human experiences through scenes that resonate with universal themes. Her paintings depict a mother clutching her son so tightly she almost constrains him, a small child appearing lost on the street, and four brides standing closely together in a circle. These oil pastel works invite viewers to connect their own stories and interpretations to the scenes presented.
"I'm interested in people's lives," Helnwein explained during a Friday tour of the exhibition. "Where did they grow up, why did they choose this profession, and what was the worst day of their life?" This curiosity about human nature drives her artistic vision and influences the emotional weight of her work.
The exhibition spans four rooms and features predominantly large-format paintings created with oil pastels, a medium the 46-year-old autodidact and author adopted after years of primarily drawing. "The pastels gave me new possibilities," she noted. "I liked it because I don't know many people who work with this medium." Her artistic focus centers on female figures, including mothers, nurses, and brides, each rendered with a distinctive emotional intensity.
As the daughter of renowned Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein, Mercedes was surrounded by art from an early age. "It was always around me - it was completely normal for me to do something artistic," she reflected. Despite this artistic heritage, her first exhibition took place in Los Angeles, marking the beginning of her international career.
Museum Director Christoph Breitwieser describes Helnwein's paintings as having an extraordinary, almost eerie atmosphere. He considers this exhibition another highlight for his small museum, which has recently presented works by Neo Rauch and international artists like Andrej Dúbravský. The museum's ability to attract such caliber of artists demonstrates the unique appeal of intimate exhibition spaces.
Gottfried Helnwein attended his daughter's exhibition opening, dressed entirely in black with dark sunglasses and a scarf in his hair. He praised the Bensheim City Museum's special charm, explaining, "It's better to go where everything isn't crammed together, but where people would never otherwise see the pictures. This gives it a different value." His support highlights how even artists accustomed to major venues appreciate the focused attention smaller museums can provide.
Mercedes Helnwein echoes this sentiment, citing another reason that makes Bensheim attractive as an exhibition venue. "I like the idea of putting together an exhibition based on what would look cool - without any specifications like in a gallery," she emphasized. This creative freedom led her to ship her artwork from the United States and Ireland to Germany without hesitation.
For Museum Director Breitwieser, this international participation proves a significant point about accessibility to art. "We don't have to fly to Los Angeles or Paris - or drive to Frankfurt. We can also see important art here in Bensheim in an accessible way," he stated. The exhibition runs until October 5, 2025, at the Bensheim Museum located at Marktplatz 13.
