Friedrich Hechelmann: The End of the Skiing

Friedrich Hechelmann was born in 1948 in Isny im Allgäu, Germany. As a child, he discovered his great passion for painting and art. In Vienna, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts under Rudolf Hausner, a prominent representative of fantasy romanticism. Early on, he developed his own recognizable style, emphasizing striking use of color, light, and metaphysical depth.

In 1972, Hechelmann received the Vienna Academy Award and held his first exhibition. That same year, his illustrations for the children's book Zwerg Nase (Puck Noses) brought him a breakthrough as an illustrator. This was followed by numerous book illustrations that also gained international recognition. He is known, among other works, as the illustrator of Michael Ende's Momo, William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Selma Lagerlöf's Nils Holgersson, and the Künstlerbibel (2006).

His celebratory publication Tristan received the Federal Art Book Prize (Bundeskunstbuchpreis) in 1986. Momo, on the other hand, was awarded the Troisdorf Picture Book Prize in 2010. In 1993, he founded Kunsthalle Schwaben in Kleinweiler-Hofen together with gallerist Joseph Baschnegger-Hechelmann, which housed a permanent exhibition of Hechelmann's works, as well as rotating exhibitions of other artists' works, concerts, and literary evenings.

Hechelmann also worked on films and stage design. Some of his most significant projects include set design for the Hänsel and Gretel film (1980, commissioned by August Everding), illustration of the initial script for the Rheingold film (1981, commissioned by Herbert von Karajan), and the SWR/ARD film The Magic of Christmas (1984), which won the Prix Jean D’Arcy award in 1985.

Regular exhibitions in Germany and abroad expanded his international visibility. For example, his exhibition in St. Petersburg in 1990 received much attention, and the Hermitage Museum acquired a significant piece from his Phantastes series for its collection.

In 1999, when Kunsthalle Schwaben moved to Isny Castle, Hechelmann's most extensive project began. The castle, which had previously served as a hospital and was privately owned, was transformed into a new exhibition space for his art. Through the Friedrich Hechelmann and Schloss Isny Art and Culture Foundation, established in 1999, he brought new splendor to the castle. Over more than 25 years, Hechelmann explored and restored other parts of the castle. His vision and creativity created a comprehensive work of art, with his signature visible in nearly every detail.

Hechelmann's inventive creative power also extended into new artistic areas. This led to the creation of bronze sculptures Angels / Bronzes (2015), literary works Manolito (2017), Livia (2018), and Panthea (2021), as well as structural paper works Weißen Bilder (2023). This immense versatility and countless created artworks make Friedrich Hechelmann a remarkable artist. Friedrich Hechelmann passed away in Isny on August 27, 2024. His artistic legacy continues to live on through his works, which are displayed in permanent and rotating exhibitions at the Isny Schloss Art Hall.

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