Elena Rossi
Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser created Irinaland Over the Balkans in 1969. The painting is a portrait of a woman with stripes resulting from the fundamental spiral. Hundertwasser himself described his inspiration for the painting, saying:
> I wanted to paint a picture which seemed to dissolve and had lots of the Balkans in it. I was involved with a Bulgarian actress and went through real Casanova adventures, including hiding under the bed for hours, escaping out the window in my pyjamas, where the nearby florist completely sympathised with my plight and gave me food and lodging for nothing. And then a leap to the side to avoid being run over by a speeding rival who had been lying in wait for me in his car.
The woman in the painting is believed to be the Bulgaric actress Irina Maleewa, to whom he dedicated this vision of a memory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1969 |
| Place | Rome |
| Inspiration | Involvement with Bulgarian actress Irina Maleewa |
| Technique | Silkcut, 29 sieves, phosphorescent colours, eggtempera, oilcolours, crayoned foil of aluminium |
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What You'll Learn
Hundertwasser's relationship with Bulgarian actress Irina Maleewa
Friedensreich Hundertwasser was inspired to paint 'Irinaland over the Balkans' by his relationship with Bulgarian actress Irina Maleewa. The painting, created in 1969 in Rome, is a vision of memory, a timeless picture of yearning and love.
Hundertwasser himself described his inspiration for the painting:
> "I wanted to paint a picture which seemed to dissolve and had lots of the Balkans in it. I was involved with a Bulgarian actress and went through real Casanova adventures, including hiding under the bed for hours, escaping out the window in my pyjamas, where the nearby florist completely sympathised with my plight and gave me food and lodging for nothing. And then a leap to the side to avoid being run over by a speeding rival who had been lying in wait for me in his car."
The painting is a portrait of a woman, described as having a "weird beauty" that is both fascinating and touching. It is the seventh piece of Hundertwasser's Regentag portfolio and is considered one of the most expressive and impressive works within his oeuvre.
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The portrait of a woman
Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser created "Irinaland Over the Balkans" in November 1969 in Rome. The painting is a portrait of a woman, the Bulgaric actress Irina Maleewa, to whom he dedicated this vision of a memory.
Hundertwasser described his inspiration for the painting as follows:
> I wanted to paint a picture which seemed to dissolve and had lots of the Balkans in it. I was involved with a Bulgarian actress and went through real Casanova adventures, including hiding under the bed for hours, escaping out the window in my pyjamas, where the nearby florist completely sympathised with my plight and gave me food and lodging for nothing. And then a leap to the side to avoid being run over by a speeding rival who had been lying in wait for me in his car.
The portrait is the seventh of the portfolio Hundertwasser's Regentag, and is considered one of the most expressive and impressive pieces within Hundertwasser's oeuvre. The portrait is shaped by stripes resulting from the fundamental spiral, creating a sense of movement and energy. The artist Günter Dietz contributed to the unique effect of the painting by increasing the number of colour excerpts to 29 sieves, including two phosphorous colours flashing up inside the mouth and eyes in darkness. The model was painted with eggtempera and oil colours on a base of crayoned foil of aluminium, with nine new transparent foils painted by the artist for the silkcut.
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The painting's spiral shape
The spiral shape in Friedensreich Hundertwasser's "Irinaland Over the Balkans" is a fundamental element of the painting's composition. The spiral, created through the use of stripes, shapes the portrait of a woman, contributing to her intriguing beauty. This spiral effect is further accentuated by the use of different printing techniques and colour excerpts.
Hundertwasser's inspiration for the spiral composition may have been influenced by his desire to create a painting that "seemed to dissolve". In his own words, he wanted to paint a picture that had "lots of the Balkans in it". The spiral shape, with its dynamic and fluid nature, may represent the idea of dissolution or the blending of different elements, reflecting his adventures and experiences with the Bulgarian actress Irina Maleewa, to whom the painting is dedicated.
The spiral composition also adds to the expressiveness and impressiveness of the artwork. The stripes resulting from the spiral create a unique effect, enhancing the emotional impact of the portrait. This complex spiral composition was achieved through the use of various printing techniques, such as silkcut and the use of multiple sieves, as described by Günter Dietz, who was involved in the printing process.
The spiral shape in "Irinaland Over the Balkans" also carries symbolic significance. Spirals have long been associated with concepts such as growth, evolution, and the cycle of life. They can represent movement, change, and the connection between different levels of consciousness. In the context of Hundertwasser's environmental activism and ecological ideals, the spiral may symbolize the natural cycles and processes that he sought to integrate into his art.
Additionally, the spiral shape in "Irinaland Over the Balkans" can be interpreted as a reflection of Hundertwasser's architectural theories. He advocated for organic structures and rejected monochromatic colours in his "Mouldiness Manifesto". The spiral composition in the painting aligns with this philosophy by creating a sense of movement and fluidity, resembling organic forms found in nature.
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The use of 29 sieves
The painting, created in 1969 in Rome, was dedicated to the Bulgaric actress Irina Maleewa, with whom Hundertwasser shared a close connection. The use of 29 sieves by Günter Dietz enhanced the expressive nature of the artwork, contributing to its impact and memorability.
The model for "Irinaland Over the Balkans" was painted with eggtempera and oil colours on a base of crayoned foil of aluminium. The artist also painted nine new transparent foils for the sieves, further intensifying the artistic intention.
The complex manufacturing process involved in creating the artwork extended beyond the use of 29 sieves. Three specialised companies in the area around Stuttgart participated in its production. The final artwork included gold glossy-foil embossing and the application of UV varnish.
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The painting's creation in Rome
In November 1969, Hundertwasser created the painting 'Irinaland over the Balkans' in Rome. The painting was dedicated to the Bulgaric actress Irina Maleewa, with whom Hundertwasser was close.
Hundertwasser described his inspiration for the painting as follows:
> "I wanted to paint a picture which seemed to dissolve and had lots of the Balkans in it. I was involved with a Bulgarian actress and went through real Casanova adventures, including hiding under the bed for hours, escaping out the window in my pyjamas, where the nearby florist completely sympathised with my plight and gave me food and lodging for nothing. And then a leap to the side to avoid being run over by a speeding rival who had been lying in wait for me in his car."
The painting is a portrait of a woman, shaped by stripes resulting from the fundamental spiral. It was printed using 29 sieves, with different metal stamps and two phosphorous colours flashing up inside the mouth and eyes in darkness. The model was painted with egg tempera and oil colours on a base of crayoned foil of aluminium. The silkcut, for which the artist painted nine new transparent foils for the sieves, enabled the intensification of this artistic intention.
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Frequently asked questions
Hundertwasser was inspired by his relationship with Bulgarian actress Irina Maleewa, and his time in Rome in 1969.
The painting is a vision of a memory, a timeless picture of yearning and love.
The painting is a silkscreen print consisting of 29 sieves, with two phosphorescent colours flashing up inside the mouth and eyes in darkness. The model was painted with eggtempera and oil colours on a base of crayoned foil of aluminium.
Hundertwasser wanted to paint a picture that seemed to dissolve and had lots of the Balkans in it.
The painting measures 691 x 500 mm.
