Collected Perceptions
As a young artist in the nineteen-sixties it took a certain amount of self-confidence to dedicate yourself to figurative painting. Norbert Tadeusz did just that. Out of this grew an impressive painterly oeuvre, widely admired today. Tadeusz had a subject, an obsession, almost. It was the female body. He wanted to capture it, first as a sculptor, still in the class of Joseph Beuys, and from then on, as a painter. Female nudes provided him with the most diverse reasons for painting and set his deep painterly curiosity in motion more than any other subject; nudes remained an equivocal mystery to him, and thus an inexhaustible source in his struggle with form.
Tadeusz chose primarily large to very large formats for his paintings, works of sophisticated structure, with austere motifs oscillating between colour that is flat and colour that proliferates aggressively. In addition, he produced a set of works almost entirely in private, practically unnoticed by the public. While not deliberately trying to conceal these, he nonetheless carefully kept them to himself, and ultimately left them within the shelter of his studio for decades: small oils of intimate character, captivating in their intensity and directness. It is a kind of personal collection consisting of sketches and drafts of shapes, of preliminary deliberations and spontaneous transcripts, but invariably restrained and precise. These works have something casual, something unintentional, about their whole character. They are not pleasing. They show interiors imbued with the banality of the everyday. Female models are placed on carpets and sheets, between a radiator and a TV, posed on stools and shiny, black grand pianos. In his surrounding environment, in his studio, Tadeusz finds his visual sustenance. The artist never attempts to narrate. No agitation, no pathos. Tadeusz displays. His gaze forges subject-matter. With this gaze, he surprises us.
He latches onto the unusual, exposes an un-sanitised, sensual reality full of melancholy, inhabited by goddesses of a very earthly kind. Tadeusz adheres to the tangible, the graspable. His attention is directed towards things, irrespective of whether they are nudes or ladders. Through energetic brushstrokes, he helps them achieve a sense of forceful presence. He tirelessly gleans stimuli from them that are wholly personal. And even before the subject arouses interest, viewers find themselves attracted to the sheer play between forms and colours, arranged in a legible way. Order and passion, an instinctual geometry shapes the architecture of his pictures. Peculiarity piques curiosity. Nudes and props melt into a strange symbiosis. A heightened sense of colour breaks through unmitigated contrasts, illuminating surfaces with delicate glazes or areas of tantalising garishness. Extreme angles, foreshortening and changing viewpoints keep the spatial structure in a fragile balance, as well as creating an obvious pull in terms of perspective, which, like the probe of a geologist, aims inside the body of the picture.
Representation in Tadeusz’s work remains vague and fragmentary. Created with a deconstructive energy, his works evade full comprehension when only given a cursory glance. They instigate a deft game of perception, a game in which each centre of attraction is simultaneously recognised as the fringe of the next, a game that encompasses figures and intervals alike. This game follows a net of contingent relations cast with ingenuity and which seeks its strongest form of expression in repetition, doubling and symmetry. Diagonals determine movement and speed. Those who follow Tadeusz’s sweeping gaze are met with unexpectedly fascinating pictures; in other words, they learn how the folded edge of a carpet can become an event.
Text by Dorothea Baumer, from: Norbert Tadeusz. Bilder 1964 – 2004, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Vita
1940
Norbert Tadeusz is born on 19th February in Dortmund
1960—1961
Werkkunstschule Dortmund
Studies of painting under Gustav Deppe
1961—1966
Studies at the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf bei Gerhard Hoehme, Joseph Fassbender and Joseph Beuys (master class)
1971
Grant of the Kulturkreis im Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie
1973—1981
Teacher at the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
1981—1988
Professor at the Staatlichen Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
1982
Participation at the Venice Biennale
1983
Villa Romana Prize, Florence
1988—1991
Professor at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin
1991—2003
Professor at the Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Braunschweig
2011
Norbert Tadeusz dies on 11th July in Düsseldorf
Selected Solo Shows
2021
Himmelgeister, Norbert Tadeusz for his 10th anniversary of his death – Mittelrhein Museum Koblenz, Koblenz
2018
Tadeusz. Figur – Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Vienna
2017
Hummelglück – Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Düsseldorf
2016
Lasst Blumen sprechen – Museum Schloss Moyland, Bedburg-Hau
Meat. The rejected paintings – Faurschou Foundation Beijing, Beijing
2015
Norbert Tadeusz. Gemälde 1978–2002 – Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Chemnitz
Studio – Museum ESMoA, El Segundo (in cooperation with LACMA)
Materie und Gedächtnis – Sammlung Hurrle Durbach, Museum für aktuelle Kunst, Durbach
Norbert Tadeusz. Malerei. Werke aus der Schaffenszeit 1969–2009 – Galerie Bernheimer, Munich
2014
Norbert Tadeusz – Im Schaukabinett des Albertinums, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden
Von Tribünen und Spielfeldern – Studio Michael Royen, Vettelschoß
2013
Nobert Tadeusz. Cavalli – Galerie Utermann, Dortmund (cat.)
Skulpturen, Zeichnungen und Aquarelle 1960er bis 1980er Jahre – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Norbert Tadeusz. Die Wirklichkeit ist, wie sie ist – Kunstverein Ulm, Ulm
2012
Norbert Tadeusz. Nighthawks – Böhm Chapel, Hürth
2011
Zeichnungen, Aquarelle, Collagen 1960–2010 – Karl & Faber, Munich (in cooperation with Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich)
Aquarelle und Zeichnungen 1960–1969 – Schönewald Fine Arts, Düsseldorf
Norbert Tadeusz. Paintings – Galerie Schönewald und Beuse, Düsseldorf
2010
Norbert Tadeusz. 70 Jahre. Neue Bilder – Galerie Noah, Augsburg
Norbert Tadeusz. Arbeiten auf Papier – Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich (cat.)
Adaptionen. Neue Bilder – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Time After Time. Norbert Tadeusz zum 70. – Mönchehaus Museum, Goslar (cat.)
bodenlos! Nobert Tadeusz – Kunsthalle Darmstadt, Darmstadt (cat.)
2009
Schatten. Bilder von Norbert Tadeusz – Kunstmuseum Bochum, Bochum
Dunkle Begleiter. Schattenbilder von 1965–2009 – Galerie Wolfgang Gmyrek, Düsseldorf
2008
Arkaden I, Arkaden II, Roter Fries – Pumpwerk Evinger Bach, Dortmund
Nobert Tadeusz. Malerei – Galerie Beyer, Dresden
Nighthawks – Museum Ludwig, Cologne
Gemälde 1978–2002 – Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Chemnitz (cat.)
Cavalli – Kunsthalle Koblenz, Koblenz
2007
Anachronismen zur Gegenwart – Kulturspeicher im Landesmuseum, Oldenburg (cat.)
2006
Varengeville – Galerie Utermann, Dortmund
Körper-Farbe-Licht. Norbert Tadeusz in der Barockgalerie – Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig (cat.)
Bilder – Krefelder Kunstverein, Krefeld
2005
Elementar. Malerei, Zeichnungen, Skulpturen – DG Deutsche Gesellschaft für christliche Kunst e. V., Munich (cat.)
Trilogien – Galerie Wolfgang Gmyrek, Düsseldorf
Der deutliche Blick. Bilder und Blätter – Galerie Noah, Augsburg
2004
Graphik – Galerie Zell am See, Zell am See
Bilder 1964–2004 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich (cat.)
von oben / d’en haut / from up above – Ludwig Museum im Deutschherrenhaus, Koblenz (cat.)
2003
Italien sichten – Neues Museum Weimar, Weimar (cat.)
Bilder – Deutsche Botschaft, London
Radierungen – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
2002
Überarbeitete Fotos 1969–2001 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Bilder – Galerie Thomas, Munich (cat.)
Körper – Ehemalige Reichskanzlei Kornelimünster, Aachen (cat.)
2000
Tadeusz 1967–1999. Bilder aus einer Berliner Privatsammlung – Kunsthalle Lingen, Lingen (cat.)
Druckgrafik. Arbeiten der letzten fünf Jahre – BDA-Galerie, Braunschweig (cat.)
Existenz und Passion. Werke 1962–2000 – Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund (cat.)
1999
Bilder 1964 bis 1977 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich (cat.)
Galerie Hans Strelow, Düsseldorf
Works on Paper – Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh (cat.)
1998
Energische Augenblicke. Bilder bis 1997 – Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Bonn
Bilder 1964 bis 1977 – Galerie Pels-Leusden, Berlin (cat.)
1997
Night Hawks – Galerie Barlach, Halle K, Hamburg
Werke 1962–1996 – Galerie Vömel, Düsseldorf (cat.)
1996
Olimpia – Von der Heydt-Museum, Wuppertal
Bilder 1960–1992 – Galerie Brigitte Ihsen, Cologne
1995
Galerie Heseler, Munich
Zeichnungen der 60er und 70er Jahre – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1994
Landschaft-Technik – Galerie J. Friedrich, Dortmund (cat.)
Innen und außen – Galerie Eva Poll, Berlin
Olimpia mit schwarzem Flügel. Neue Bilder – Galerie Wolfgang Gmyrek, Düsseldorf (cat.)
1993
Plastiken – Galerie Hans Barlach, Hamburg (cat.)
Papierarbeiten aus drei Jahrzehnten – Museum Katharinenhof, Kranenburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Ein Bild – Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund
1991
Bilder 1980–1991 – Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf (cat.)
Nudes, Landscapes and Flower Paintings – Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York (cat.)
1990
Plastiken – Galerie Hans Barlach, Cologne/Hamburg (cat.)
1989
Bilder und Zeichnungen – Galerie Eva Poll, Berlin
1988
Bilder – Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe (cat.)
Bewegungsbilder – Galerie Hermeyer, Munich
1987
Akte-in transitu – Galerie Wolfgang Gmyrek, Düsseldorf (cat.)
1986
Bilder 1971–1985 – Galerie Hermeyer, Munich
1985
Menschenbild-Christusbild – Rabanus Maurus-Akademie, Wiesbaden
Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo und Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen (cat.)
1984
Vorhölle-Carni – Galerie Wolfgang Gmyrek, Düsseldorf (cat.)
Galerie Claude Bernard, Paris
1983
Galerie Fred Lanzenberg, Brussels
Galleria Schema, Florence
Galleria Vivita, Florence
1981
Gemälde 1960–1980 – Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund (cat.)
Neue Bilder und Gouachen – Galerie Wolfgang Gmyrek, Düsseldorf
1980
Bilder 1962–1980 – Kunstverein Braunschweig, Braunschweig (cat.)
Gemälde 1975–1980 – Neue Galerie-Sammlung Ludwig, Aachen (cat.)
1978
Bilder, Gouachen – Galerie Axiom, Cologne
1976
Bilder von 1962 bis 1973 – Galerie Kröner, Freiburg
1974
Bilder 1963–1974 – Galerie Poll, Berlin
1973
Werke 1963–1973 – Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Städtische Kunsthalle, Düsseldorf (cat.)
Galerie Onnasch, Cologne (cat.)
1970
Zeichnungen, Gouachen – Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf im Ehrenhof, Düsseldorf (cat.)
1967
Galerie Gunar, Düsseldorf
Galerie Dahlem, Darmstadt
1966
Galerie Gunar, Düsseldorf (cat.)
