In the early 20th century, the canon of works consecrated by the history
of art was increasingly challenged by critics such as Hans Prinzhorn and
artists such as Jean Dubuffet, who focused on the works of so-called
dilettantes, self-taught artists, and lunatics as primordial artistic
expressions seemingly related to the art of primitive tribes and
children. The art of these 'outsiders, ' for which Dubuffet coined the
term 'Art Brut', was special in its instinctive directness. It is free
from academic influences, resulting instead from a kind of maniac
production without any model or strategy. Today, Kurt Wanski (1922-2012)
remains one of the least known major exponents of Art Brut, despite
having been a renowned and respected figure in East Berlin's art scene.
From the outset, Wanski spent his life in asylums and hospitals before
finally moving to the safe haven of a Catholic mental health
institution. He always remained independent as an artist. A captive of
his own world, Wanski primarily used magazines and journals as models
for his drawings. Although he redrew the motifs in a rather clumsy way,
his works are more magical than the original designs. For Wanski, who
never left Berlin during his lifetime, printed pictures were an
unlimited source of inspiration linking the real world with his
imagination. Text in English and German.
