Peter Makolies – Retrospective

Peter Makolies – over half a century of artistic work in Dresden. Some of his work is on display and well known in Dresden. At the same time, a previously hidden treasure trove of paintings and drawings has emerged. In a major retrospective, Peter Makolies’ paintings, drawings and sculptures are now being presented to the public for the first time. In doing so, the Städtische Galerie honours the creative and artistic life’s work of an original and exceptionally creative artist in Dresden, whose work has also inspired subsequent generations.

The artist’s sculptures can be found in many locations throughout the city. Particularly well-known are the large sandstone masks on the functionalist building of the Semperoper and the ‘Böttgerstele’ on the Brühlsche Terrasse, which recently fell victim to an act of vandalism. Alongside his sculptural work, he also produced paintings and drawings in his early years. This aspect of his artistic output has so far remained hidden from the public. In this major retrospective, Peter Makolies’s paintings, drawings and sculptures are now being presented together to the public for the first time.

The paintings and drawings from these early years demonstrate how masterfully the artist aesthetically reflects his perception of the world around him and how confidently he is at home in the media of painting and drawing. At that time, Jürgen Böttcher (Strawalde) was an important mentor; it was with him – together with his companions Peter Graf, Peter Herrmann and Ralf Winkler (A.R. Penck) – that he attended a drawing course at the adult education centre. Working together and the intense discussions about art amongst friends inspired the young Makolies.

The artist’s sculptures often depict physical volumes with a balanced and restrained, yet assured, presence. At times, they echo the artistic traditions of the Sumerians and the ancient Egyptians, lending some of the torsos, heads and half-figures an archaic expression. Peter Makolies developed his own unique visual language at an early stage, thereby establishing a distinctive personal style. His preferred material is stone. He masterfully succeeds in eliciting soft, delicate, vulnerable and even sensual effects from this hard material. However, other materials continue to inspire him to explore creative possibilities to this day: the exhibition therefore also features works in stucco marble and terracotta. The artist is always inspired by the distinctive qualities of each material and develops a formal language appropriate to it.

The exhibition spans the spectrum from early major works right through to pieces from the very present day. In doing so, the Städtische Galerie honours the creative and artistic life’s work of an original and exceptionally creative artist in Dresden.

Peter Makolies
born in 1936 in Königsberg, grew up in Wölfis, Thuringia
1953–1956: stonemason’s apprenticeship at the Dresden Zwinger Bauhütte
1955–1957: attended drawing classes at the Dresden Adult Education Centre (VHS). Together with Winfried Direske, Peter Graf, Peter Herrmann and Ralf Winkler (A.R. Penck), a circle formed around Jürgen Böttcher (Strawalde).
In 1964, he passed his master’s examination as a stone sculptor
Since 1966, he has been working as a freelance artist in Dresden