About '4-Continents'

Louvre, Paris, in 1997. It felt initially like a flash light and, instantly, the greek statue ´Kouros´ (Apollon from ´Piombino´) was deeply nested in my heart. Its naturalistic and highly skillful appearance, the calm and serene expression in the sculpture's face were all contributing to this emotion. Again, it was the city of Love and Arts which started something completely new in my inner world: the focussing on sculptures and spacial visualization.

It was only one short night of weighting and consideration, then the second visit in the Musée du Louvre did lead to the purchase of a moulage of the ´Kouros´ head ... acompaning me now for the rest of my trip to France. This new 'housemate' did arrive safely my home and it took me four additional years till I decided to position it on a detached socle and to present it to my friends. This was in 2001.

Already one year before, early 2000, a small Indian bronze figure (´Shiva´ the cosmic dancer) joined my tiny collection, and both statues did then accompany me on my 2½ years delegation to the ´New World´: to Canada. This land of hope for many locals and immigrants from all over the globe did perfectly teach me the cultural variety of native art ... and specifically the beauty of African art. My first African extention of the collection now included a Marka-mask used for initiation ceremonies and also two walking sticks originating from Tansania: Makonde or maybe Nyamwezi.

After several trips to the Canadian east coast (Quebec City, Gaspé, Tadoussac) and also on the west coast (Canadian Rockies, Banff, Vancouver, Victoria) I could gradually grasp the plain artistic concepts which are underlying most of the ´First Nations´ masterpieces: using simple geometric shapes and through repetition, they can depict nature in a very eye-catching manner. This depiction and image is at the same time an ovation and homage of 'mother' nature.

I started to look now for parallels, for similarities, in the art of African tribes, in the art of the Canadian West-Coast, BC, and in the Inuit art, residing in the Far North, Nunavut.

The expansion of this collection did continue at an accelerated pace after I retuned back to the ´Olde World´ - back to Nuremberg in the year 2002.

The majority of collectibles in '4-Continents' originate from two major collections in southern Germany.

To be named first, K.W.H., is an important author and writer from Bamberg, and also a collector of old African art, who continues to expand in second generation a collection founded by his father 91 years ago. It were his explanations and his patient guidance which help me to understand more of the rites of African tribes - important also to mention here is his grand library on African art and culture. Most of my African masterpieces originate from his large collection of bronze, ceramics and wooden sculptures.

In 2009, a second extention of '4-Continents' took place, due to a Munich auction of masterpieces of Dr. K.F.S. , a major german collector and specialist in both African and native art. This way an Babembe/Bember statue and an Indian dancer found it's way to my growing collection.

Structuring:
The collection ´4-Continents´ consists of three separate parts. The first part is called „AFRICAN ART meets GEOMETRY“ and underlines the geometric concepts in the art of Africa. The second and smallest part is „EQUILIBRIUM in EURASIAN ART“ and highlights the complex shapes or the artistic ornaments in Indian and European masterpieces. The Canadian section is called „Colors and Shapes in HAIDA-Art“ and roots deeply on the design and styling of colors and regular patterns. This North-American part concludes the collection ´4-Continents'.

As a visitor of my '4-Continents', I kindly invite you to join me on this journey.

K.S.H (September 2010)