A packed gallery opening in Güstrow has revealed surprising new facets of Günter Naumann, the beloved actor best known as the sun-tanned Chief who steered East Germany's dream ship through the socialist Caribbean in the popular family TV series "Zur See." The exhibition at Galerie Martina Fregin showcases Naumann's previously unknown talent as an accomplished painter, displaying his oil paintings, detailed drawings, and sketches alongside photographs from his diverse career.
The exhibition, titled "From Studio to Spotlight," was organized by Naumann's daughter Sabine to commemorate what would have been her father's 100th birthday. Sabine Naumann, herself a successful graphic designer and illustrator who works with sculptor Günter Kaden in their studio in Wendischhagen near Malchin, has compiled an impressive collection of her father's artistic works. The display includes cityscapes, portraits, sketches, posters, and photographs that reveal the multifaceted nature of the versatile actor.
Among the highlights are early academic drawings that are both meticulously detailed and remarkably vibrant, including still life compositions and notable architectural sketches executed with loose yet precise strokes that never lose sight of the essential elements. During the crowded vernissage, Sabine Naumann delivered a tribute to her father, sharing numerous stories from the Chief's life, including how he maintained a travel diary filled with quick sketches even during filming of the beloved "Zur See" series in Cuba. "My father drew constantly and observed everything with keen alertness," she revealed.
Sabine explained that her father always carried his sketchbook with him wherever he went. Even during international theater tours, he would draw between performances, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to visual art. The exhibition reveals that Naumann particularly enjoyed illustrating program booklets for theaters where he performed, and he maintained friendships with prominent DDR graphic designers and illustrators such as Manfred Bofinger and Volker Pfüller.
Naumann's distinctive facial features with strong cheekbones were frequently seen on film screens and theater stages throughout his career. He portrayed impressive characters at world-renowned venues including the famous Berliner Ensemble and Deutsches Theater Berlin, performing alongside notable actors like Armin Mueller-Stahl and Manfred Krug. Beyond his iconic role as the Chief, Naumann was also well-known throughout unified Germany as Commissioner Beck in the crime series "Polizeiruf 110." These same striking facial features and questioning gaze are captured in one of his most compelling works: a self-portrait in oil on canvas that conveys Naumann's confidence as a painter.
According to his daughter, sometimes small incidents determine life's direction, as happened with her father. The reason Günter Naumann became an actor instead of a painter was decided by a brief question from instructors at the Dresden Art Academy: "Are you in the FDJ?" If he had answered yes, he would have been immediately enrolled without an entrance examination. However, Naumann, recently released from English prisoner-of-war captivity, was unfamiliar with the youth organization.
World War II had already thwarted the trained concrete worker's initial dream of studying architecture. However, during his time in England, he had intensively studied painting. After the failed admission to Dresden, the skilled concrete specialist returned to construction work. It was while participating in the reconstruction of 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 painting throughout his life. He also taught his children to develop a keen eye for visual observation. "Even if you don't have materials with you, paint with your eyes," he advised Sabine. Later in life, father and daughter would often 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 this quieter, artistic side of Naumann. "I always associated Günter Naumann with the series 'Zur See,'" she confessed, expressing gratitude for this new and enriching perspective on the multitalented performer. The exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the private artistic world of one of East Germany's most popular actors, revealing the depth of talent that extended far beyond his memorable screen and stage performances.
The comprehensive exhibition remains open to the public in Güstrow until November 22, providing art enthusiasts and fans of the beloved actor an opportunity to discover this previously hidden aspect of Naumann's creative legacy.
