Günter Naumann, best known as the sun-tanned 'Chief' who steered the East German dream ship through the socialist Caribbean in the beloved DDR family TV series 'Zur See,' is being celebrated not just for his acting prowess but also for his remarkable artistic talents. A new exhibition in Güstrow reveals that one of East Germany's most popular actors, who later gained recognition throughout unified Germany as Commissioner Beck in 'Polizeiruf 110,' possessed many lesser-known facets, including exceptional skills as a painter.
The exhibition, titled 'From Studio to Spotlight,' has been organized by Naumann's daughter Sabine in honor of what would have been her father's 100th birthday. Sabine Naumann, herself a successful graphic designer and illustrator who lives and works with sculptor Günter Kaden in their studio in Wendischhagen near Malchin, has curated a comprehensive collection of her father's artistic works at the Martina Fregin Gallery in Güstrow.
The packed vernissage revealed fascinating new details about the multi-talented performer. Sabine Naumann, who delivered the laudatory speech about her father, shared intimate stories from the life of the 'Chief,' including how he maintained a travel diary filled with quick sketches even during filming of the popular 'Zur See' series in Cuba. 'My father drew extensively and observed everything with keen alertness,' she revealed to the audience.
According to his daughter, Naumann carried his sketchbook everywhere he went. During international theater tours, he would even draw between performances, constantly documenting the world around him with his artistic eye. The exhibition showcases urban landscapes, portraits, sketches, posters, and photographs from the versatile actor's life, including early academic drawings that are remarkably detailed yet vibrant, such as still lifes and notable architectural sketches that capture essential elements with loose, confident strokes.
Naumann clearly enjoyed illustrating program booklets for theaters where he performed and maintained friendships with renowned East German graphic artists and illustrators like Manfred Bofinger and Volker Pfüller. His distinctive facial features with strong cheekbones, frequently seen on film screens and theater stages, are also captured in a striking oil-on-canvas self-portrait that conveys his confidence as a painter. Throughout his career, he portrayed memorable characters at world-famous venues including the Berliner Ensemble and the Deutsches Theater Berlin, performing alongside notable actors like Armin Mueller-Stahl and Manfred Krug.
The path that led Naumann to acting instead of painting was determined by a seemingly minor incident, as his daughter recounts. When applying to the Dresden Art Academy, instructors asked him a simple question: 'Are you in the FDJ (Free German Youth)?' A positive answer would have granted him immediate admission without an entrance examination. However, Naumann, recently released from English prisoner-of-war captivity, was unfamiliar with the youth organization and missed this opportunity.
World War II had already thwarted his original dream of studying architecture, forcing the trained concrete construction worker into different paths. During his time in England as a prisoner of war, however, he had intensively studied painting. After his failed admission to Dresden, the skilled concrete specialist returned to construction work. It was while helping rebuild the destroyed Chemnitz Opera House that he first got a taste of theater life, setting him on his eventual path to acting stardom.
Despite his successful acting career, Naumann never lost sight of his passion for painting and made sure to pass on this artistic vision to his children. He taught them what he called 'the school of seeing,' advising his daughter Sabine: 'Even when you don't have materials with you, paint with your eyes.' Father and daughter would later go sketching together in the scenic landscape of the Malchin Basin, continuing their shared artistic bond.
Gallery owner Martina Fregin admitted she had never known about this quieter, more contemplative side of the artist. 'I always associated Günter Naumann with the series 'Zur See,'' she confessed, expressing gratitude for this new and enriching perspective on the beloved performer. The exhibition runs through November 22nd in Güstrow, offering visitors a chance to discover the hidden artistic depths of one of Germany's most cherished television personalities.
