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
Im Garten von Peter Makolies
Exhibition dates
An evening in honour of Strawalde – to mark his 95th birthday
Film and discussion
Welcome
Dr Gisbert Porstmann, Dresden City Museums
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Holler, Saxon Academy of Arts
Stefanie Eckert, DEFA Foundation
Film
*Three of Many*, 1961/1988, 32 minutes
Discussion
Jürgen Böttcher, Peter Makolies, Matthias Flügge
Born in 1931 in Frankenberg, Saxony, and raised in the village of Strahwalde in Upper Lusatia, the film director and painter Jürgen Böttcher, alias Strawalde, is one of the most important artists of the post-war period. This evening, marking his 95th birthday, not only highlights Strawalde’s cinematic and artistic oeuvre, but also pays tribute to his special place in the German art scene and his connections with his contemporaries.
The programme will feature his 1961 DEFA short documentary ‘Drei von vielen’ (Three of Many), which was immediately banned and did not receive its premiere until 1988; the film centres on his Dresden artist friends Peter Graf, Peter Herrmann and Peter Makolies at the start of their artistic careers,
Afterwards, Strawalde will speak with the journalist Matthias Flügge and the sculptor Peter Makolies about the film’s production history and background, their paths to art, and the reasons why they persevered despite all adversities. The narrative spans right up to the present day, offering a glimpse into over 60 years of German-German art and cultural history.
An event organised by the Saxon Academy of Arts in cooperation with the Museums of the City of Dresden and the DEFA Foundation
We would like to thank our sponsors
