Dogs and cats are no longer just small and cute puppies or kittens. The loving animal is now a companion to live with us. For example, ‘traveling with pets’ has become a new trend. This is because there is a growing perception that the pet is an equal member of the family. Although the number of households raising pets is now growing, can you believe that there is someone living with more than 30 pets? Here is an artist who lives with animals and paints them in her own garden. The exhibition ‘Rosina, Happy Art Museum with Her Family’ shows her warm paintings in a total of four Love Story.

           Rosina Wachtmeister is a world-class color artist born in Vienna, Austria. Her studio is a little different from other studios. In a beautiful five-acre garden filled with many plants and animals, she shows a variety of art, such as paintings, sculptures, pottery and gardening. As the open garden is her studio, what stands out most in her work is color. She expressed her companion animals and garden in warm and colorful colors.

           Her painting style reminds us of the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, the creator of the work The Kiss and master of the Vienna Separator[1]. As can be seen in The Kiss, he featured the golden halo and colorful flowers as a prominent motif in his works. This feature can also be seen in Rosina's Giallo Oro (The Golden Cat). As ‘Golden’ is included in the title of the piece, all of its sun and sun-lit cat hair are expressed in gold. Also, her paintings often show colorful buildings, which remind us of Gaudi's Park Guell. Rosina's Citta (City) series depicts buildings of various colors under a golden star. Rosina shows Klimt's signature characteristics in her own style.

           There are 20 cats, 10 abandoned dogs, a pelican and a peacock in Rosina's studio. However, it is the cat that makes up a large number of her work rooms. Therefore, in one of the Love Story sections, named Daily Life, her cats paintings appear at the exhibition. She has such a great affection for cats that she has the nickname the Cat Artist. At first glance, the cats in the works may look similar. This is because the cat she usually paints has a crescent-shaped face. In fact, she found the characteristics of 20 cats and put them on the canvas. Then she titled paintings with their names. Rosina also remembers each moment she first met her 20 cats. Although it took a long time to console the wounds they had received, they now comfort her. She has painted her cats with love. Furthermore, she runs an animal shelter as well as donates to animals. She paints what she lives.

           The cat works of the exhibition show this motto of her life. Just as people upload photos to share their daily lives on Instagram, she described her daily life with cats in paintings. Let's see Teatrino (Waiting for the Show). In fact, there is no great historical significance to this as with some famous paintings. Two cats simply stood between the two curtains on the stage. However, like a mother who had come to see her daughter's ballet performance and took pictures, Rosina drew her pets. In My Daughter's Family, Rosina's love for her companions can also be felt. From the title, she describes her cats as daughters and as family. Also, the cats in the work look like family photos hanging in the living room. Literally, cats are like family to Rosina.

           Rosina's garden also has other friends besides cats. Her dogs, pelican, peacock, and even an owl keep company in the garden day and night. They are friends of Rosina, and animals also get to be friends with each other. These four works show it the best. The paintings show the moment when the bear meets its new friend Rosina's cat. She draws her cat named Tibaldo and bear family from Goebel. They play under trees, enjoy the campfire, and take walks with each other tied together.

           For her, friends do not only mean the animals in the garden. The garden itself could also be a friend to her. Likewise, for animals, the garden can be another friend. In Occhi della note (The Night Owl), four owls sit together on a branch. Everyone can see that they are friends with each other. However, let's think differently. The subtitle There Is a Colorful Night Among the Trees shows that it is not just about owl friends. The garden of the night that appears behind the owls is also being friends with the owls. Everyone in her garden is friends with each other.

           The garden is so special to her. Her studio near Rome is her own little universe. Just as all life begins in space, the garden is source of her paintings. She said that gardening makes her mind humble, and she seems to be a part of nature. Her magical garden stands out particularly in this exhibition. Her garden is recreated in the exhibition hall. Before entering the garden, there is a work called Bosco Incantato (Enchanted Forest). You can see the mysterious garden and cat of the painting for real. The fact that the source of warmth is the garden could be noticed.

 

           Rosina described the exhibition under the keyword ‘love’. Her cat, friends, and garden are the things that taught her love. That's why Rosina's works, which portray them as objects, make people feel warm. If you this September, why don't you meet Rosina's exhibition, which show love?

 

Dates: 2019.06.15~2019.09.15

Hours: 11 A.M.~ 8 P.M.

Place: Sfactory

Ticket Prices: Adults 15,000 won/Adolescents (13 years old~18 years old) 13,000 won/

Children (3 years old~12 years old) 11,000 won

Contact: 02-784-2117