Liège
Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège.
The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...
, Belgium) is a Belgian painter, graphic artist, sculptor and designer.
Life
Roger David Servais spent his childhood in Liège, Brussels and Berlin. In 1961 he began his studies of painting and design at the School of Art in West Berlin. When the Soviet sector became segregated by the
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall (german: Berliner Mauer, ) was a guarded concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and East Germany (GDR). Construction of the Berlin Wall was commenced by the government ...
, he married his girlfriend Waltraud Kolbow who lived in the eastern part of the city and they moved to Berlin- Prenzlauer Berg (
East Berlin
East Berlin was the ''de facto'' capital city of East Germany from 1949 to 1990. Formally, it was the Allied occupation zones in Germany, Soviet sector of Berlin, established in 1945. The American, British, and French sectors were known as ...
). In 1965 their daughter Marguerite was born. As citizen of Belgium he was free to travel and he commuted between Brussels and Berlin, but he endured reprisals from the East German government. His art was prohibited to go on exhibition. He made use of his talents by designing book covers for publishers. By intervention of
Baudouin of Belgium
Baudouin (;, ; nl, Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Maria Gustaaf, ; german: Balduin Albrecht Karl Leopold Axel Maria Gustav. 7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993), Dutch name Boudewijn, was King of the Belgians from 17 July 1951 until his de ...
, his wife and daughter were allowed to leave the German Democratic Republic in 1973 and settle in Belgium.
In 1974 Roger Davis Servais continued his studies of art at West Berlin's School of Arts, which, in 1963, he had been forced to intermit. His most influential teacher was
Otto Hofmann
Otto is a masculine German given name and a surname. It originates as an Old High German short form (variants ''Audo'', '' Odo'', '' Udo'') of Germanic names beginning in ''aud-'', an element meaning "wealth, prosperity".
The name is recorded ...
, a former pupil of the Bauhaus. In 1979 he became a member of the
Deutscher Künstlerbund
The Deutscher Kuenstlerbund (Association of German Artists) was founded in 1903 the initiative of Count Harry Kessler, promoter of arts and artists, Alfred Lichtwark, director of the Hamburg Art Gallery and the famous painters Lovis Corinth, Ma ...
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
and Italy. From 1990 onwards he joined the painter and civil rights activist
Bärbel Bohley
Bärbel Bohley (24 May 1945 – 11 September 2010) was an East German opposition figure and artist.
Biography
As an artist, Bohley won prizes from the authorities, including a trip to the Soviet Union. Her opposition to the government did n ...
in her quest to shed light upon oppression and instrumentalization of the arts in the GDR. They both initiated Klaus Schröder's und Hannelore Offner's book ''Eingegrenzt – Ausgegrenzt: Bildende Kunst und Parteiherrschaft in der DDR 1961-1989'' (Limited - Excluded: Art and the Party's Control inside the GDR between 1961 and 1989) published by Berliner Akademie Verlag in 2000.
After the death of his wife he married Tosca Schmalenberg in 1998. He lives and works in Berlin and Southern France.
Work
Roger David Servais can be described as a „European non-conformist“. He is a figurative artist, painter, graphic artist, sculptor and designer who unites opposing techniques in his works - geometric abstraction as well as elements of symbolism and
surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to l ...
. His paintings and drawings visualize complex religious, historic and autobiographic statements which are expressed in an indirect and subtle way and are partly encrypted. Single letters play a significant role, hinting at the context rather than identifying it; the colours contribute to the painting's essential meaning, too. The relation of shape and space is a very important element.
Paintings (selection)
Stilleben mit Fischen.jpg, Stillleben mit Fischen, 65 cm × 50 cm, Öl, Collage, Hartfaser, 1965
Shoah1966.jpg, Churban, 120 cm x 76 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 1966
Selbstbildnis in Brüssel.jpg, Selbstbildnis in Brüssel, 60 cm × 70 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 1986
Flüchtling.jpg, Flüchtling, 135 cm × 180 cm, Acryl, Karton, 1991
Beth 14.jpg, Beth, 70 cm × 70 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2014
Kleiner Engel.jpg, Kleiner Engel, 50 cm × 60 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2015
Toska1.jpg, Toska, 50 cm × 60 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2005
3Töchter18.jpg, 3 Töchter, 86 cm × 120 cm, Acryl, Papier, 2015
Bereshit14.jpg, Bereshit, 86 cm × 120 cm, Acryl, Papier, 2015
Arte1990.jpg, Arte, 135 cm × 180 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 1990
PIA1.jpg, PIA, 50 cm × 60 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2010
Pia1a.jpg, Pia, 23 cm × 30 cm, Öl, Karton, 2010
Hasidic jewish fiddler, Homage to Daniel Ahaviel.jpg, Chassidim, 100 cm x 130 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2010
Bidnis.jpg, La Nice, 50 cm x 60 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2013
Chassidim1.jpg, Im Licht G-ttes, 100 cm x 130 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2010
Im Bad (1).jpg, Im Bad, 50 cm x 60 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2012
Der Traum14.jpg, Der Traum, 50 cm x 60 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2014
In der Synagoge, 80 x 100 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 1985.jpg, Thora-Lesung, 80 cm x 100 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 1985
In jerushalaim.jpg, In Jerusalem, 120 cm x 130 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 1084
Ikarus1-18.jpg, Ikarus, 120 cm x 180 cm, Öl, Leinwand, 2014
Torahträger.jpg, Torahträger, 135 cm x 180 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 1990
Schwedin.jpg, Schwedin, 40 cm x 50 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 1988
Im_Wind.jpg, Im Wind, 135 cm x 180 cm, Öl auf Leinen, 1991
Sibylle, 21 x 29,7 cm, Graphit auf Papier, 2016.jpg, Sibylle, 21 x 29,7 cm, Graphit auf Papier, 2016
In der Synagoge, 80 x 100 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 1985.jpg, In der Synagoge, 80 x 100 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 1985
Hasid, 50 x 60 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 2016.jpg, Hasid, 50 x 60 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 2016
Großer Engel, 130 x 150 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 2015.jpg, Großer Engel, 130 x 150 cm, Öl auf Leinwand, 2015
Der Vertrag, 87 x 67 cm, Öl auf Hartfaser, 1985 (2016).jpg, Der Vertrag, 87 x 67 cm, Öl auf Hartfaser, 1985 (2016)
Exhibitions (selection)
* 1979–1984: Künstlerbund exhibition, Große Kunstausstellung, Munich
* 1981: Neue Darmstädter Secession, Darmstadt
* 1983: ADAC exhibition München
* 1984: Galerie Slominsky, Mülheim an der Ruhr
* 1985: Kunsthaus Hamburg
* 1985: Kunstverein Stuttgart
* 1986: Galerie Jacob, Oldenburg
* 1986: Neue Gruppe München
* 1987: Art prize by the City of Kirchheim
* 1987: Galerie Lietzow, Berlin
* 1990: Künstlerbund exhibition Berlin
* 1991: Goethe-Institut, Brüssel
* 1991: Galerie Niepel, Düsseldorf
* 1992: Usedomer Kunstverein, Galerie Pankow
* 1994: Künstlerbund exhibition, Galerie Niepel, Düsseldorf
* 1995: Galerie auf Zeit, Berlin
* 1999: Jüdische Visionen in Berlin
* 2004: Berliner Bank, Berlin
* 2005: Galerie Thomas Günther, Berlin
* 2009: Kunstpavillon Heringsdorf
* 2012: Schaffens(t)räume: Atelierbilder und Künstlermythen in der DDR, Gera
* 2016: Roger David Servais: A painter in no man's land between East- and West Berlin 1961-1974, Kommunale Galerie Pankow, Berlin
* 2016: Ende vom Lied: Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin
Catalogues
* 1981 Die neue Darmstädter Secession, Darmstadt: Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt
* 1983 80 Jahre Deutscher Künstlerbund 1903-1983: 31. Jahresausstellung Berlin: Kunstreport 3 `83, Berlin
* 1983 Spuren: Auo-Vision-Galerie: Die ADAC-Sammlung: Auto und Umwelt, Munich
* 1984 Deutscher Künstlerbund: 32. Jahresausstellung Frankfurt: Kunstreport 2 `84 Berlin
* 1984 Christine Gaspar: Een knipoog naar de Anekdote. Regenberg, Anton, Claudia Hahn-Raabe, Christine Gaspar, Roswitha Meulemann (ed.): Berlin-Brüssel 1984 Tag für Tag: Ein Rückblick, Goethe-Institut
* 1985 Konfrontationen 1,2,3. Exhibition at the Kunsthaus Hamburg from 3 May to 2 June 1985: Michael Eckle, Victor Kraus, Rolf Liese, Renate Sendler-Peters, Arno Backhaus, Michael von Cube, Franz Kochseder, Walter Raum, Jochen Sendler, Horst Hamann, Helga Jahnke, Ernst Heckelmann, Jochen Schimmelpfennig, Roger Servais, Hamburg: Kunsthaus Hamburg
* 1987 Roger David Servais: Bilder, Gouachen, Zeichnungen 1967-1987, Berlin: Galerie Lietzow
* 1990 Der Deutsche Künstlerbund in Berlin 1990, 38. Jahresausstellung Berlin
* 1992 Roger David Servais: Bilder und Gouachen, Berlin: Cultural Office Pankow
* 1992 Jüdische Künstler in Berlin, Berlin: Jewish Museum/Berlin-Museum; Martin-Gropius-Bau
* 1999 Berlin, Meshulash (editor): DAVKA: Jüdische Visionen in Berlin: Berlin
* 2000 Ästhetische Alternativen: Internationale Grafik für das Horst-Janssen-Museum Oldenburg: Donation Jürgen Weichardt, Oldenburg: Isensee
* 2012/2013 Schaffens(t)räume: Atelierbilder und Künstlermythen in der ostdeutschen Kunst, Gera: Art Collection Gera, New Orangery
* 2016 Roger David Servais: Ein Maler im Niemandsland zwischen Ost und Westberlin, Berlin: Cultural Office Pankow
* 2019 Point of No Return. Wende und Umbruch in der ostdeutschen Kunst / Transformation and Revolution in East German Art, Leipzig,
Museum der bildenden Künste
The Museum der bildenden Künste (German: "Museum of Fine Arts") is a museum in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. It covers artworks from the Late Middle Ages to Modernity.
History
Museum Foundation and First Museum
The museum dates back to the fo ...
*1969 Lászlo Bóka: Graf Dénes: Roman. Linocuts by Roger Servais, Berlin: Verlag Volk und Welt
*1970 Horst Lothar Teweleit (ed.): Taufiq al Hakim: Von Wundern und heller Verwunderung und von denen, die es mit Himmel und Hölle halten. Illustrations by Roger Servais, Berlin: Rütten & Loening
*1995 Gerd Henniger: Spiegel im Spiegel. Szenen einer Kindheit. Sechs Radierungen von Roger David Servais, Berlin: Mariannenpresse, .
*1987 Sigmar Schollak, Roger Servais (illustrations): Tätowierungen: Aphorismen und Epigramme. Introduction by Günter Kunert, Berlin: Weidler, .
*1995 Günter Kunert: Dschamp Nr. 8: Elegien. With screen-printed graphics by Roger David Servais, Berlin: Edition Galerie auf Zeit
*1999 Ulrich Tarlatt (ed.): Die Farbe Schwarz – Hommage a Philipp Otto Runge Halle: edition Augenweide
*2002 Thomas Günther (ed.): Günter Kunert (texts), Roger David Servais (illustrations): Vertrieben aus Eden, Berlin, Edition Galerie auf Zeit
*2003 Henryk Bereska: Burgschreiber zu Beeskow: Märkische Streifbilder, Berlin: Aphaia Verlag 2003, .
*2009 Roger David Servais: Erinnerungen an Robert Rehfeldt, in: Lutz Wohlrab (ed.): Robert Rehfeldt: Kunst im Kontakt, Berlin: Wohlrab, p. 27, .
Works
Works by Roger David Servais can be found in private and public collections, e. g.:
* National Gallery (Berlin)
*
Kupferstichkabinett Berlin
The Kupferstichkabinett, or Museum of Prints and Drawings, is a prints museum in Berlin, Germany. It is part of the Berlin State Museums, and is located in the Kulturforum on Potsdamer Platz. It is the largest museum of graphic art in Germany, ...
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (french: Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, nl, Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België) are a group of art museums in Brussels, Belgium. They include six museums: the Oldmasters Muse ...
*
Jewish Museum of Belgium
The Jewish Museum of Belgium (french: Musée juif de Belgique, nl, Joods Museum van België) is a museum in Brussels, Belgium, focusing on the history of the Jews in Belgium.
History
The idea of founding a Jewish museum emerged in the late 197 ...
*
Royal Library of Belgium
The Royal Library of Belgium (french: Bibliothèque royale de Belgique, nl, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, abbreviated ''KBR'' and sometimes nicknamed in French or in Dutch) is the national library of Belgium. The library has a history t ...
*
Kupferstich-Kabinett, Dresden
The Kupferstich-Kabinett (English: Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs) is part of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen (State Art Collections) of Dresden, Germany. Since 2004 it has been located in Dresden Castle.Princeton University