Category Archives: Drawing

Waiting for Rain

It is very hot and dry. All Namibians are yearning for the rain to come. So am I.

I have decided to make another, small ‘rainmaker’ work and place it in my garden in hope to set the right energies free to let there be rain. I have made my first “Rainmaker” artwork in 2010. You can click here to be taken to pictures and information on that 🙂 .

For some time now I have been experimenting with the idea that combining creative energy and ritual with the right intentions should be able to influence the ‘reality’. In simple terms: I am trying to figure out, if a rain dance can really produce rain.

And if so, what ingredients are needed? Are there specific magical forms, rhythms, sounds or actions that are needed? Do we really need to dance to get rain, or could it be another creative expression? (Since I am not a dancer, this question is actually quite on top of my list…)

While I am still hoping to one day stumble on a copy of “Rain Dancing for Dummies”, I have settled to do a lot of reading in related matters, from traditional beliefs and cultures from all over the world to artists who have explored similar concepts, like Joseph Beuys.

And while I am at it, I thought, it will not harm to start experimenting with it already. So here are some pictures of my drawing of a raining cloud made to focus the intention on the reality which I would like to see and feel.

I have made it a few days ago and yesterday there were some promising clouds but no rain. Today there are some more clouds, so I am keeping my fingers crossed… and my intentions focused on the cool refreshing wetness of rain…

Rainmaker on my stoep (local word for verandah)

Rainmaker on my stoep (that is what Namibians call a verandah)

20cm high flat stone, sepcially collected for this purpose from the Namib. I made the drawing with white Chalk drawing.

+-20cm high flat stone, specially collected for this purpose from the Namib. I made the drawing with white Chalk, so that it can wash off with the first rain…

Some clouds in the sky in the day I have made the drawing.

Some clouds in the sky on the day I have made the drawing.

Art Clubs – what a brilliant idea!

4 Replies

Sold! This lady will be traveling to her new home(s) in Denmark.

: Untitled, 59 x 42cm, Ink, Acrylic on paper. © Imke Rust

I have just sold this drawing on paper from my current figurative series to the Danish art club “C67” (from the town of Hjørring) after they visited me in my studio. Their visit to galleries and artists’ studios in Berlin was organized by the Danish artist Mads Dahl Pedersen, who’s studio is in the same building as mine. (Go and check out his artworks by clicking on his name, once you are finished here).

Besides being happy about another sale of my art, I also got to know about art clubs for the first time. Here is what I learned about them:

Art clubs are very popular in Denmark and it sounds like such a cool idea: Each member pays a small monthly fee and the money gets used to buy art. The members of the art club can then hang the work in their own houses for a month, after that time the work goes on to the next member, so that everybody gets a chance to live with the artwork. Once a year they hold an auction, where the members can bid on the works they really like and want, and the highest bidder gets to be the final owner of the work. What a cool idea to stimulate the interest in art and keep it fun and interesting, while at the same time building up a good collection of art!

This particular club has eleven members. I think that is an average number so that each member can have each artwork for one month in the year. And each member pays about 60 Euros per month. I guess the amount payable is made up by the group and depends on their income. So that starting an art club is not a matter of being well-off, but rather of putting your money together to buy great art. And you meet once a month, go to galleries together, talk about art and exchange ideas and views.

Maybe this idea can take root in Namibia (or wherever you are living)? What do you think, is this a brilliant idea or what?

Tate Kuru, a tree and a road – a story of courage and doing the right thing

13 Replies

A little sketch I made to remember this awesome story

Some years ago I lived in Oshakati, a town in northern Namibia, which was/is a crazy mix between traditional Africa and urban shopping centers, absolute poverty and tremendous wealth, thousands of people and similar amounts of donkeys, goats and hungry dogs roaming the streets. Not really a pretty place, but interesting and alive.

The time there left a huge impression on me in many ways and left me with quite a few stories to tell. The memory of one story suddenly returned to me in vivid colours and stubbornly keeps sticking in my thoughts. I guess it is a good time to tell and share this story, as it is so inspiring. Here it goes:

One day we left Oshakati, driving north-west towards Ruacana with a friend. The surrounding area is pretty flat and the road at most places unimaginatively straight, except for one place. About 50km outside of Oshakati the straight road heads straight towards a gorgeous, huge tree. Shortly before the road meets the tree it makes a bend to the right and travels around it, just to take up its normal course shortly afterwards. I commented that I thought that was great of the engineers that they did not just chop down the tree in their way, but instead planned for the street to go around it. Our friend smiled and told us, that the engineers and road builders had no intention to do this, but planned to fell the tree. A ‘Tate Kuru’ (Ovambo for wise old man) – I assume from a nearby village – found out their plans and did not want this ancient, impressive tree to die to make place for the street. He pleaded with them, but the authorities were not interested and told him the tree has to go in the name of development.

The old man was not that easily impressed, so he went home, got his gun and sat under the tree, threatening to shoot anybody that tried to remove him or the tree. He sat there for a very long time, day and night, protecting the tree from the developers and nobody knew what to do with this stubborn and determined ‘Tate Kuru’. Eventually his perseverance of this one old chap won and amazingly the developers build the road around the tree. Unfortunately I do not know who this guy was… I would love to meet him and thank him.

I made a tiny little drawing to remind me of the responsibility and power we all have towards our environment.

The moral of the story?

If one old man can protect a tree from a tarred road and rich developers, so can you and me. We just need to remember what is really important and act accordingly. And remember this very special ‘Tate Kuru’ if you ever feel that you are all alone or not strong enough to make the world a better place.

You alone can make a difference, and if we join forces, we can make an even greater difference. And sometimes some bold actions and perseverance is needed.

Just to prove to you that this story is not made up, I have located the spot on Google satellite images and marked it for you. You can clearly see the road making a bend around the big dark tree.

If you want to know why this story is so important to me at the moment, read on:

I am really concerned about the future of our beautiful Namib Desert and coastal area around Swakopmund – just recently the Namibian Cabinet has agreed to sell 700 hectares of the Dorop National Park to a company who plans to build a huge industrial and chemical plant. Eventually they will need about 3000 hectares according to their plans, also all inside the recently established Dorop National Park. The same company (and some others) also has plans for marine phosphate mining along our coast and they have already acquired the respective EPLs (Exclusive Prospecting Licenses). In most parts of the world it is prohibited to mine marine phosphate which is highly radioactive and scientists do not know what impact the mining could have on the ecosystem and oceans. You can get much more detailed and scientific information about this on “The Earth Organization Namibia” blog.

Have a look at some of the artworks which I have made for this cause here. And watch out for my exhibition in Swakopmund in December!

About a year ago a small group of concerned citizens has got together and are trying to spread information on this situation and the possible consequences and to protect our home from pollution and exploitation. They have formed several Facebook forums and they have also started a petition.

Please support this cause, by joining the Facebook groups, signing the petition and by getting informed and active in whatever way you can.

Link to the Petition: (just click on the links to be taken straight to the respective sites)

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-ministers-of-environment-tourism-and-fisheries-marine-resources-listen-to-scientists-don-t-let-phosphate-mining-threaten-namibia-s-ocean

Facebook Pages:

Industrial Swakopmund?? What future do we want!

We Say NO to Gecko’s VIP Industrial zone near the Namib Coast

A good summary of some background information can be found at:

“The Earth Organization Namibia” blog

Also:

Encourage your family, friends and contacts to send their e-mail addresses to the following e-mail address so that a comprehensive mailing list can be maintained and all those can be reached and kept informed about the environment of the Namibian coastline and its ocean:

swakopmundmatters@mtcmobile.com.na

Curled-up Woman

12 Replies

Curled Up Woman (Ink on paper, A2) (c) Imke Rust

Today I am sharing a new drawing of mine with you. I am busy with writing of applications and organizing to have an exhibition at the end of the year in Namibia, so I do not have time to write a long blog. Hope you enjoy the picture instead 🙂

Relationships, Art & Healing

2 Replies

Relationships

As long as I can remember I have been intrigued by the underlying patterns and relationships between people, things and events.

Waffen kaufen wir in den USA © IRust (Tippex on magazine page) (Translation of the title: We buy our weapons in the USA)

I have always been trying to get a better understanding of what life is all about, as the normal explanations, which our society has to offer, seldom seem convincing or desirable to me. Since childhood I have been convinced that there must be better ways for us to do things (all kinds of things). Surely there must be a better life out there for all of us?

If something does not feel right and makes me really happy, I just do not want to accept that this is how it is supposed to be, just because people say so. I do not care if their arguments are based on religion, social rules, scientific research or other dogmas. I have been called stubborn and insubordinate, but at least nobody can accuse me of being a sheep, and it felt good to go ahead and do something which I was told I could not do or find my own better or more efficient way to do things.

I believe that there is more to life and living than what we commonly accept to be true. The world is not flat, no matter how many scientists have said it is. It is not OK to kill somebody, no matter how many religions supposedly tell us that we have to fight wars in the name of some god. It is not acceptable to place the profits of a few over the health and well-being of a whole community. I refuse to accept that millions of people live in great poverty and hunger.

Art

I guess that is why I have become an artist. Artist in the widest possible sense of our understanding of art.

Art as a creative tool – creating a new or better reality. A tool that can access the world of the soul. A tool that is rooted in imagination and vision. A tool that is based on colours, forms and materials just as much as it is on ideas, hope and dreams.
Art, which shows us something, which we have not seen before.
Art that opens us up to possibilities and new thoughts.
Art, which reminds us of who we are.

Preparation sketch for a painting

Healing

And I guess, that is the reason that I am interested in alternative healing and living methods. Once again, I talk of healing in a much wider sense, in the sense of wholeness. This wholeness is not limited to being whole (or healthy) in our physical body, but also in our spirits, our ways, our actions, basically in our whole being. Being whole also means to be part of the whole – of everything there is. Understanding that we are connected to every other being on this planet, including ‘things’ we do not consider to be alive, like water, soil, rocks or energies.

The bottom line…

Unfortunately, I do not know the answers or have a no-fail solution, or am able to live my life in the perfect harmony which I wish for, but what I can say, is that I will continue to ask the questions and keep on searching and keep on using my art as a vehicle to express my questions and thoughts, explore the possibilities and try to find a better way.

I have shared these thoughts with you, as I believe that they are fundamental for understanding my approach to my art and my life. I think it might be a good introduction to the next few articles, which I will be posting about my current work. And another selfish reason I do this for: sometimes it is good for me to take stock and get back to the basics, in times when I am facing obstacles and frustrations and need to remind myself why I am doing what I am doing, so that I find the courage to continue and do not give up.

Glimpse into my sketchbook 1

10 Replies

Today I do not feel like writing, so instead I will just post some of my recent sketches for you. Enjoy!

Pencil on paper, A4

lying nude sketch, ink on paper, A4

Sketch of my friend's baby, pencil on paper, A4

Hero Dogs

6 Replies

Hero Dogs 1© Imke Rust 2003 Collage 20x19cm

Not many people know the little series of “Hero Dogs” which I have made several years back.

These works were made in honour of the dogs we humans use to save people’s lives in so many ways, especially when disaster has struck or to prevent crimes etc. and who are seldom acknowledged for their brave and wonderful work.

Somehow the works have never been on exhibition before, and I never had good enough images of them to share them by other means. They are old, but still very special to me, and after a friend expressed her interest in them (thank you, Jutta) I thought I will scan them and share them with you today.

Enjoy!

Hero Dogs 2 © Imke Rust 2003 Collage 20x19cm

Hero Dogs 3 © Imke Rust 2003 Collage 20x19cm

Hero Dogs 4 © Imke Rust 2003 Collage 20x19cm

Hero Dogs 5 © Imke Rust 2003 Collage 20x19cm

Hero Dogs6 © Imke Rust 2003 Collage 20x19c

… and YES, they are for sale 🙂

Creative Time

2 Replies

In the last weeks I have painted and sketched, played and observed, dreamed and created, and steadily I have filled my mind with so many new images and my small studio with numerous new artworks. I feel so blessed to be able to follow my dreams. I feel grateful for having a space to create and for finally coming to a stage in my life where I can focus on my own art again and it is a wonderful experience. There is nothing as exciting and invigorating as being in the flow of creativity.

This is also the reason that I have not updated my blog as regularly as I have hoped to… I hope you understand and forgive me, especially when you see all the new artworks that I have created. Unfortunately I cannot share them before the exhibition in April 2012 – a real test in patience for me.

Well, it is almost Christmas and the end of the year. It has been a busy and productive and very creative year for me, with many big and small transformations. I look back with happiness and gratitude and would like to thank everybody who has helped me along the way, who has supported me, who has cared and who has read my blogs and posted comments. Your encouragement and interest means a lot to me and keeps me going.

If you celebrate Christmas, I wish you a merry and blessed festive time, free of the mad consumerism that has taken us and the event hostage. And for everybody else a happy and peaceful last few days of the year.

Here I have a special little creature to accompany you through the end-of-year madness.

Ink, marker & watercolour on paper, 29x 21cm (c) Imke Rust

Ausstellung der Graphothek Berlin

1 Reply

This article was taken from the following webpage:

http://www.graphothek-berlin.de/?hmenu=2&item=11&vid=11

For all of you who do not understand German: My works are currently being exhibited in group exhibition of the Graphothek Berlin until the 21st of October 2011. If you are in Berlin, come and view this exhibition!

Ausstellung der Graphothek Berlin

Neu in der Graphothek – eine Auswahl neuer Grafik und Fotografie

Ausstellungsdauer: 16.09. – 21.10. 2011

Candy Girl Triptych by Imke Rust

In der diesjährigen Herbstausstellung der Rathausgalerie Reinickendorf präsentiert die Graphothek Berlin ab dem 17. September 2011 eine Auswahl von rund 50 bisher nicht gezeigten Neuankäufen der letzten Jahre.

Die Ausstellung zeigt Arbeiten junger Berliner Künstlerinnen und Künstler, unter anderem Florencia Almiròn und Hanna Hennenkemper. Ihre Arbeiten waren bereits 2009 und 2010 in Einzelausstelllungen der Reihe „Junge Kunst“ des Kunstamts Reinickendorf in der Galerie „Atelier Oellermann“ zu sehen. Die argentinische Künstlerin Florencia Almiròn (*1982) kam 2008 mit einem DAAD-Stipendium nach Berlin. Ihre meist in sehr kräftigen Farben gehaltenen Objekte und Grafiken stellte sie in den letzten Jahren in zahlreichen Ausstellungen in Berlin und Buenos Aires aus. Ebenso in kräftigen Farben leuchten die Arbeiten von Hanna Hennenkemper (*1974). Ihre Radierungen, von denen drei Arbeiten in der Ausstellung zu sehen sind, bestechen durch eine präzise und sensible Spannung, die die Künstlerin erzeugt, indem sie 16 Druckplatten übereinander druckt. Hennenkemper ist Gastprofessorin an der Kunsthochschule Weißensee.

Das Künstlerduo Astrid Albers (*1955) und Jürgen Sage (*1952) malt gleichberechtigt gemeinsam abstrakte Bilder, von denen zwei in der Ausstellung vertreten sind. Auch die drei Siebdrucke von Gisela Genthner (*1945) sind abstrakt. Die Malerei Genthners bewegt sich im abstrakten Bereich von gespachtelten Farbverläufen bis hin zu gestischen Serien.

Von Eberhardt Franke (1936-2004) sind mehrere Radierungen zu sehen, auf denen er in den 1970er und 1980er Jahren Westberliner Szenen in Kaffeehäusern, Galerien, Kneipen und im Stadtraum eingefangen hat. Der 1944 in Tabris, Aserbaidschan geborene Künstler Akbar Behkalam ist mit zwei Radierungen seiner bekannten Persepolis-Serie vertreten. Von dem renommierten Künstler Horst Janssen konnte die Graphothek drei Lithographien mit Portraits bekannter Schriftsteller wie Marcel Proust, E.T.A. Hoffmann und Franz Kafka erwerben.

Des Weiteren werden in der Ausstellung Arbeiten von Künstlerinnen und Künstlern wie Albert Markert, Anita Stand, Helmut Gutbrod, Eberhardt Franke, Götz Loepelmann, Imke Rust, Frank K. Richter oder Jochen Stenschke gezeigt. Die künstlerischen Techniken der ausgewählten Arbeiten reichen von der reinen Druckgraphik, wie Radierung und Lithographie, über Zeichnung bis hin zur Gouache, Öl- und Temperamalerei und zur Fotografie.

Alle ausgestellten Bilder gehören zum ausleihbaren Bestand der Graphothek Berlin.

Rathaus-Galerie Reinickendorf

Eichborndamm 215-239
13437 Berlin
Tel.: 030 – 404 40 62 (Vermittlung des Kunstamtes)
Tel.: 030 – 40 00 92 71 (Leiterin des Kunstamtes)

Öffnungszeiten:
Mo-Fr 9:00-18:00 Uhr
Lageplan

Leiterin des Kunstamtes:
Dr. Cornelia Gerner, Tel.: 030 – 40 00 92 71
E-Mail: info@kunstamt-reinickendorf.de

Waiting in an ashtray…

2 Replies

Everyday waiting for the bus or the S-Bahn I witness one of the most intriguing phenomena: the careless-flipping-away-of-cigarette-buds.

In most smokers minds’ cigarette buds do not seem to be classified as litter. No, I do not hate smokers, I just do not understand this part of their actions (and yes, I do feel a bit offended by it). Has it ever occurred to you that cigarette buds are litter and belong into a bin or ashtray and not on the public floor?

It is not as if the person looks around for a rubbish bin, then cannot find one or thinks it’s too far to walk to, and then decides to rather drop it on the floor. It seems to be a totally unconscious act. Maybe somebody can explain this to me? It is a mystery to me. I assume, you do not just drop the buds on your floor at home – or do you?

I salute the few smokers who carry a portable ashtray and use it to store their ash and buds or those who are conscious enough to make use of public rubbish bins.

As I found this so intriguing, I thought I have a bit of my own fun: