Günter Thelen

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The earth man on the sculpture path in Erftstadt-Frauenthal

Günter Thelen (born August 14, 1943 in Leverkusen ) is a German sculptor . His work is based on the classical occidental sculpting tradition of Hellenistic character. He combines the aesthetics of the representational with elements of surrealism , which allows a comparison with the work of Max Ernst . As a master student of Hans Karl Burgeff , Thelen was inspired by his religious work to create independent sacred and mystical objects.

Career

Thelen completed an apprenticeship as a goldsmith from 1965 to 1967. Already at this time one of the main interests was the design of small figures as artistic jewelry. From 1968 to 1975 he studied art and design, specializing in sculpture , at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences . In 1976 he graduated as a master student of Hans Karl Burgeff. In the same year he set up a studio in Cologne. In 1976 Thelen became a lecturer in sculpture at the University of Applied Sciences for Art and Design in Cologne. In 2000, he was appointed lecturer for sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düren. In 1989 he moved his studio from Cologne to Nörvenich , where he acquired the former water tower in the Wissersheim district .

Material and work

Thelen is one of those artists who work on any malleable material themselves. Marble and other hard rock are the material for abstract and figurative sculptures. He also models in clay and plaster as a preliminary stage for castings in bronze, iron or precious metals. In addition, old wood and whole tree trunks are processed into oversized objects.

Four thematic areas emerge in its design: Larger-than-life heads made of marble, granite and various types of stone. These creations are sometimes worked out into the standing figures of the “guardians”. Such works create a fascinating, mysterious sight, especially in the landscape. In his early work there were more cozy stone sculptures of maternal women. The surrealistic view of things clear Thelen with the development of figures in which he physicality, eroticism and mysticism brings together such as the "delta cycle". These creations have mythological names like Helios and Selene . And finally he created figurines and sculptural silver jewelry, which, thanks to their masterly work, belong in the tradition of Salvador Dalí and Georges Braque .

Exhibitions

Lively exhibition activity since the early 1970s. These include, among others:

  • 1976 Paris Museum Petit Palais (Paris)
  • Galleries in Belgium and the Netherlands and in the following years in
  • Gallery FU Düsseldorf
  • InterArt Gallery Cologne
  • Gallery Colori Essen
  • Bruno Bruni Gallery Hanover
  • Osper Gallery Cologne
  • 2012/13 Galerie Marco Edition, (Bonn-Paris)
  • 2013 Museum Europäische Kunst (NRW): retrospective for the 70th birthday of the sculptor
  • 2020 Schwarzloch-Galerie 174 (Wuppertal): Mystical beings and worlds: Dance of the Corona

Public effect

Thelen received early public attention over several months in themed exhibitions in churches, in public places and in forums. These included: the Cologne Sculpture Garden, the Löhrer-Hof Hürth, the Elevanden-Hof Cologne, the Lindlar Sculptor Symposium. Also: Carmelite monastery Stolberg-Zweifall (2010), St. Marien, Düren (2011), Church of Reconciliation, Erftstadt (2012). Sculptor Symposium Erftstadt-Lechenich (2014). Works by Peter Thelen are constantly in public space:

  • “The couple in love”, larger than life stone figure as a landmark in front of the Neffeltal Hall of the large community of Nörvenich
  • "Delta woman with a sun sail", open-air exhibition Museum Europäische Kunst, Nörvenich Castle (Düren district)
  • Demeter marble work in the moat and park design area of Nörvenich Castle .
  • "Angel Heads", six surrealist portraits in stone and bronze, collection European Culture Foundation (Germany)
  • The Museum Europäische Kunst at Nörvenich Castle has been presenting works by Günter Thelen in a permanent exhibition since 2013.
  • "Der Erden-Mensch", large sculpture in marble (unique), sculpture path in Erftstadt-Frauenthal (2014).

literature

  • Günter Thelen: "The beautiful torsos ...", Ed. Martin Wolf 2017. Atelier-Verlag Marco-VG Edition, Bonn.
  • "Ars Sacra" by M. Geroldine Dörpinghaus, ed. John G. Bodenstein, Verlag EKS Germany (Bonn-Berlin) 2016/2017. ISBN 978-3-921754-51-1

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ludger Dowe: Art in the water tower. The sculptor Günter Thelen in Wissersheim. Yearbook 2011, Düren district, pp. 11-13, ISBN 978-3-942513-00-5
  2. ↑ Vita http://www.europaeische-kultur-stiftung.org/ (Germany)
  3. ↑ Invitation / program of October 13, 2013
  4. ↑ Thelen Archive, EKS, Bonn
  5. ^ Sculpture directory / archive, Nörvenich community
  6. ↑ http://www.meaus.com/0205-guenter-thelen.htm
personal data
SURNAME Thelen, Günter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German sculptor
DATE OF BIRTH August 14, 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH Leverkusen , (North Rhine-Westphalia)