"Many artists take themselves too seriously"? Nicole Leidenfrost on modern art
No brush in hand, no blobgy overalls and hair not confused. The painter wears a pink cashmere sweater, jeans, house towels and an Apple Watch on her wrist. With her right hand, she grabs the white German shepherd, who is currently doing dynamic full-body frolicking, a huge animal on this tender person. "Coffee," she asks, trying to persuade the dog to speak with stern words. So halfway successful.
Nicole Leidenfrost lives in a family home that could stand in every suburb, wrought-iron gate, red brick. Through the hallway, it goes into the large living room. The dog is lying at her feet like a flokati? and does not fit into the picture. Did she ever think about dyeing his snow-white coat? In lemon yellow maybe. Or azure blue. Or neon green. Nicole Leidenfrost's pictures are colorful. Like the screaming colorful bull on black background hanging over the big wooden table.
And the female act opposite. And the show jumper on the bike, which stands here decoratively, decorated with a fairy lights. No rainbow color is missing on Leidenfrost's works. "I've always painted like that," says the 43-year-old and suddenly laugh. "Once I tried to paint one in black and white. That was also colorful. I'm having fun, I'm like this.? The dog is heavy and slightly inappropriate.
As good as no chance, then won
Three years ago, when she painted the picture? Horse in royal blue ?. A present for the Queen, who should visit Germany. For this special occasion, the Department of State Gifts wanted to give something personal, no writing set, no candlestick, as is usual. Nicole Leidenfrost had previously applied to the Foreign Office, and anyone in the house liked their pictures so much that a request came. "On the phone, I was told, 'Mrs Leidenfrost, we are interested, but have to tell you that you have almost no chance to win the bid.' I said that I could make something and they would not have to take it. I wanted to race the race. She won the race.
The model for the acrylic painting was a photograph from 1930, which the later queen as a four-year-old on her Shetland pony? Peggy? and her father shows. In the painting, Peggy is exceptionally blue, the princess pretty pink, and the man holding the reins pretty yellow. The frame is golden. At the ceremony in Schloss Bellevue? the video of it is on the Internet? The then Federal President Joachim Gauck moderated the painting presented on an easel. The queen looks at it and says that the horse has a strange color.
On that very day, Majesty, who usually likes to dress in candy nuances, wears a white costume. Then she asks: "And that should be my father ?? Prince Philip leans toward her and asks with a smile on her face if she does not recognize him. Your amused answer:? No, not quite.? Federal President Gauck then smiled and remarked that she could stick to the marzipan she had been giving, if she did not like the picture.
Was not the first blue horse
One does not want to imagine how often Nicole Leidenfrost watched the video on the internet to find out what the Queen really thought at the time. Maybe it does not matter because heavier weighed what was in the media. The English press rushed to the picture, reported that the Germans had insulted the monarch with a ghastly portrait. The painting would look as if it had been painted by a five-year-old.
"People have their mouths torn," recalls Nicole Leidenfrost. About the colors and about the fact that little Lizzy's father did not have a face. "I was told that I can not paint faces. They mocked what was unusual and what they could not classify. But a blue horse has really painted other artists.? Leidenfrost gets going. No one checked what the picture was about and what was important to me.
But is not that the infamous phrase, the forbidden question that no artist likes to hear: "What does the artist mean to us? Nicole Leidenfrost smiles, then explains: "I was concerned with the little, happy face of the child on horseback. I wanted the queen to see the picture, to be happy and to laugh once. And she did that?
Art like sliced bread
Visiting the painter in Wedel near Hamburg, one learns a lot about one's own prejudices as far as art is concerned. It persists stubbornly the idea that art must be selfless, sold out of its genius out like sliced bread and therefore free of calculus.And that a painter only lives on turpentine-filled air and the love of art. This dazzling soap bubble immediately causes Nicole Leidenfrost to burst: "Many artists take themselves too seriously and paint only what they find relevant. Of course you can do that, but you have to ask yourself if you are going to hit the market with it. That's why I do not paint stereos on screen.?
Born in Berlin, she now uses terms such as "target-group-oriented marketing", speaks about having to listen to the client professionally and whether to pay something for advertising. "I'm an entrepreneur," she says, and as such she's really done a great job on the Queen Affair. "For me, the story was a blessing because I got so famous about it. People wrote me mails and bought my pictures. I made a lot of money over time.
At the moment Nicole Leidenfrost does not paint horses but roaring deer. They are doing very well right now. "I sold two before Christmas and I have to go now
Currently in fashion: deer and bulls
At the moment Nicole Leidenfrost does not paint horses but roaring deer. They are doing very well right now. "I sold two before Christmas and now have to paint again." Incidentally, bulls are also great. Because they stand for strength and strength. And no, not only men put 5800 euros for the colorful cattle. Among Leidenfrost's buyers are many women.
And although there are voices calling their art a "grotesque kitsch"? does not look like someone whom fate would have scarred. "Art or kitsch is just a way of looking at things," she says. ? Yeah, yeah, I'm a bit cheesy. I like everything that glitters. If I'm ready to put Swarovski stones on my paintings, then I'll do it. I'll do it for myself? or just for a customer who wants to have just that.?
As little cliché as you? not even a shade of paint on her hands ?, so unspectacular is her studio: a room with a sloping roof, a naked bulb on the ceiling, a table with tubes and pots, the carpet taped. "It's just a work surface?" Says Nicole Leidenfrost and smiles. The snow-white dog is panting busily to himself.
She knows that her studio will disappoint any romantic performance. But as a visitor, you take something else out of the unadorned room with you: suddenly the over-ripe calendar quote gets crowned, move on? a whole new meaning? especially as Nicole Leidenfrost is a prime example of how royal self-discipline and composure help over a disaster. If you want to call it a disaster. Because the episode about the blue horse did not quickly whitewash her in her vita? she gilded her. The term "Queen Painter"? The artist even protected herself under trademark law. Because, surprisingly, a lot of colleagues suddenly adorned themselves with this title.
As you can see again that it is always worthwhile to imagine life in the most colorful colors? even and especially when others find it quite appalling.
