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Alfred Lichter was 12 when Kandinsky’s “Dreamy Improvisation” provided his first encounter
with art, and he says the work has never lost its intensity for him. Another “revelation”
was August Strindberg’s essay “On Accident in Artistic Creation”, which enunciated the
kind of art he had always been searching for. “Towards the end of a long life, I consider it
a privilege to be accepted into the service of the kind of art which disregards any personal
vanity, and validates only the final outcome.” Validation of this remarkable artist’s life is also
confirmed at his Alarós foundation, where examples of essential works from different phases
of his artistic production are presented in a permanent exhibition, with a special emphasis
on his late work, including “Windows”, illustrating his understanding of the meaning
of art: “to open windows to the spiritual world – an alternative concept to our materialistic
and conflict-filled earthly existence”.
What prompted you to move to Mallorca in
1982?
Mallorca’s nice weather. I‘ve always preferred
southern climates, because living through
the Russian winters as a soldier during the
war left me with a constant fear of the cold.
Is there any particular element in your
work that characterises the Mediterranean
lifestyle?
On Mallorca my paintings have become
more colourful and more joyful.
You currently have an exhibition, “The Path
II“, continuing to 28 July, and then “Insights“,
from 4 August to 4 October. What
can we expect to see in your “Insights“
show?
“Insights“ will be an exhibition of works by
Heidi Stein and myself, and I have therefore
chosen to show very recent paintings done in
the past few months. They are an expression
of my current state of mind.
You must have been delighted when two
German art patrons provided the impulse
to set up the Alfred Lichter Foundation in
2011, to preserve your artistic oevre. What
do you believe is your main legacy in the
world of art?
To restore dignity to art.
You describe the “unexplainable“ as being
the essence of pure art. Now, at 95, do you
believe you’ve unlocked the mystery of that
essence? Are you now as close as you believe
you can get to it?
My lifelong search for the essence of art has
made me realise that this search is identical
to the search for the meaning of our existence.
It is the search for what we call God:
the great unknown, cosmic intelligence or
creation. It has led me to discover the “spiritual
world“, the all-encompassing source of
energy for all possible forms of existence.
What work are you most proud of?
I understand myself as a messenger delivering
information originating with a higher
power. There can be no question of pride.
What – or who – inspired you to become an
artist?
My early love of modern art. My first art
teacher, Mr. Lange, who kindled my love for
modern painting. Unfortunately, this occurred
at the same time as Hitler‘s rise to power.
Hitler denounced all the art we both loved as
“degenerate“, leaving me and my art teacher
speechless.
What was the first style you experimented
with as a young artist? And in what ways
has your style evolved over the past eight
decades?
I have always searched for the essence of
art. It made me journey like a vagabond
through all the many artistic styles, always in
search of this essence. With my Capriccio
paintings, I have now found a way to come
closer to this goal.
How you would define your current style?
I hope that every new painting I complete
now manages to open a window or a door to
the spiritual world, which for me is the only
real world.
Fundacio Lichter Alaró
C/ de l‘ Ermità Joan Mir 9
Alaró
Tel. 971 510 850 / 634 853 391
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 17- 20 h
Saturday: 10- 14 h
+ 20-22 h
8th, 10th, 11th and 15th August
Fundaciolichteralaro.com
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