BERND HAUSSMANN
from the nature of things
Bernd Haussmann’s From the Nature of Things is work about interconnectedness and transformation. He explores the circular life of all things. “Nothing gets lost, only change occurs, everything is a stage of life; growth, being, becoming, decay and growth again. Change is the nature of things.”
Bernd embraces the dialogue with his audience and the inclusion of the environment into his work. The viewer is an integral part of his art. “We are all participants in nature, the longer you look, the better you see the connected_ness of oneself to everything else.” Bernd instigates exploration within. He asks the viewer to question their expectations, memory and most of all to remain open.
In this show there are two bodies of work: Das Grosse Rasenstück After Duerer (A.D.) and From the Nature of Things Review. Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. are works inspired by “The Great Turf”, Das Grosse Rasenstueck, a small watercolor by Albrecht Dürer, painted 500 years ago. This work and Bernd’s improvisations; Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. “talk about fragility, subtlety, the seemingly unimportant, about almost nothing - or nothing we normally find interesting or important - just some dirt, some weeds, blades of grass, leaves, not composed or arranged in any dramatic way - it does not try to impress, it just shows what is - variations of green and brown viewed not from above, but straight on like a mouse, or a slug. or a frog would see it, or a human who is curious and cares.” Bernd paints with watercolors on canvas, starting from the center out.
For Bernd, the way the watercolor seeps into the canvas is similar, yet a very different experience from the other work; From the Nature of Things Review, which are paintings on canvas and reversed acrylic surfaces. While they also explore a singular moment in nature, here he transcribes these moments into monochromatic textural surfaces where he is etching into the surface. There is a power and quietness to the paintings. He often uses the actual object of focus in the work. Bernd started this exploration years ago, then revisited it through photo based investigations and has now returned to a painterly approach.
Bernd exhibits nationally and internationally, in galleries, art fairs and non-profit venues. His works are in many corporate and museum collections including: Danforth Museum of Art, MA, Montserrat College of Art, MA, Museum der Stadt Reutlingen, Germany and Provincetown Art Association and Museum, MA. Bernd was the artist-in-residence at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, 2012 - 2015. He engages in interactive projects and collaborations such as “Video Sonic Project” with the Media Institute of the University of Tuebingen.
He also enjoys the exchange with fellow artists and students. He has been a mentor and educator at Lesley University/Art Institute of Boston, and at New Hampshire Institute of Art. He teaches courses at the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Provincetown Art Association and Museum and Montserrat College of Art.
Born in Tuebingen, Germany, Bernd Haussmann has been a US resident since 1994. He divides his time between the north shore of Boston and western Maine, where he also works with his wife Anne on a 450-acre nature project.
2983 From the Nature of Things Review, 28 x 21, oil, ink, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
2992 From the Nature of Things Review, 27 x 23.75, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
2985 From the Nature of Thing Reviews, 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, canvas.
2986 From the Nature of Things Review, 10 x 7.5, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
2988 From the Nature of Things Review, 18.25 x 7.25, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
2991 From the Nature of Things Review, 27 x 23.75, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
2995 From the Nature of Things Review, 20 x 16, oil, ink, acrylics, canvas.
2997 From the Nature of Things Review, 47.5 x 18, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
3029 From the Nature of Thing Reviews, 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, canvas.
3032 From the Nature of Things Review, 10 x 9.5, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
3033 From the Nature of Things Review, 10.5 x 8, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
3005 From the Nature of Thing Reviews, 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, canvas.
3069 Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, shellac, canvas.
3062 Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. 20 x 16, ink and canvas watercolor.
2828 Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. 48 x 30 asphalt, oil and canvas watercolor, collage.
3066 Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, shellac, canvas.
3070 Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, shellac, canvas.
3070 Das Grosse Rasenstück A.D. 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, shellac, canvas.
2913 From the Nature of Things Review, 20 x 16 acrylic, oil, asphalt, canvas.
2937 From the Nature of Things Review, 20 x 16 oil, ink, acrylics, canvas.
2940 From the Nature of Things Review, 20 x 16 oil, ink, acrylics, canvas.
2972 From the Nature of Things Review, 20 x 16 oil, ink, acrylics canvas.
3030 From the Nature of Things Review, 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, canvas.
2989 Hokusai’s Journey, 21.25 x 18.25, acrylics, etching on reversed acrylic glass.
3010 From the Nature of Thing Reviews, 20 x 16, ink, watercolor, canvas.
3082 From the Nature of Things Review, 38.25 x 43, etching, oil, acrylics, chile powder, watercolor on aluminum.