Steamboat Drawing

**Artist Statement: Gert Neuhaus** Born in 1939 and now residing in Berlin, Germany, I am a surrealist painter, draftsman, and sculptor. My artistic journey has been one influenced by the great artists of the 1960s, including luminaries such as Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse, Jean Miro, and the venerable Man Ray, with whom I had the privilege of personal acquaintance. I embarked on my career as a painter and draftsman with a touch of naivety, a spirit of enthusiasm, and a desire to create. Three distinct factors continue to shape and inspire my work to this day: 1. **The Impact of World War II:** As a child and adolescent, the devastation of World War II left a profound imprint on my psyche. This cataclysmic event is often manifested as a sense of brokenness in my works. My paintings serve as a vessel to recontextualize the wartime experience, infusing it with a surreal twist. Each piece is a subjective exploration of the colossal German drama of the 20th century. 2. **Challenging Prudery:** Post-war Germany's conservative sensibilities were a source of frustration, which I sought to challenge with my provocative creations. In the early 1960s, my unconventional works garnered attention from art gallery owners who recognized my unique perspective. Exhibitions followed, and my art found eager audiences. 3. **Embracing Serendipity:** I've always been attuned to the possibilities offered by serendipity. I recognized early on that, if one can discern it, chance possesses a potent creative force that demands respect. Today, I, like my contemporaries Markus Lüpertz, Gerhard Richter, and Georg Baselitz, who also began their artistic journeys in the 1960s, stand as a venerable figure in German art. Presently, I primarily work as a painter and sculptor in Berlin, a city rich with history and artistic inspiration. My art remains an exploration of the human condition, a dance between past and present, and an ode to the beauty that can emerge from the most unexpected of circumstances.