Activities

Impressions from the Bowien Retrospective 2014 at the Solingen Art Museum

• In May 2024, the latest issue of the Bettina Heinen-Ayech Foundation's magazine "Bettina" was published - No. 37-2004. On the cover is the so-called "Danish Self-Portrait" by the artist Bettina Heinen-Ayech from 1958.

• 23.03.-21.04.2024: A painting by Erwin Bowien from the collection of the Solingen Art Museum - a floral still life (oil on canvas) entitled Amaryllis II from 1966 - was selected by the public for the exhibition "Citizens choose their favourite works of art from the municipal collection". The exhibition took place in the Solingen Art Museum, the former Gräfrath town hall, Photo: Haroun Ayech

• Erwin Bowien - an artist in exile in Egmond - An exhibition from 28 April to 3 November 2024 in honour of the German plein air painter, pacifist and artist colonist Erwin Bowien (1899-1972)

• Erwin Bowien, a German plein-air painter and pacifist who grew up in Switzerland, decided to leave Germany in the winter of 1933, horrified by the Nazi takeover. He went to the Netherlands, which he had got to know a year earlier on an extended trip and where he was able to make some contacts.
• His first long-lasting stop was the city of Hoorn, where he created numerous paintings. From 1934, he settled in the small town of Egmond aan den Hoef near Alkmaar

• In 2023, the idea was born to show an exhibition of Dutch works by the artist Erwin Bowien in the museum and to shed light on the time of his exile in the Netherlands. Bowien was not only one of the many German exiles who found refuge in Holland, but also one of the last painters of the Egmond artists' colony. He captured the breathtakingly beautiful dune landscape around Egmond aan Zee, the wide horizons of North Holland and the often stormy North Sea in many haunting paintings.

• The exhibition was open on 28 April 2024 and will be on display until 3 November 2024.

• 2023 in November: The city of Solingen initiates a campaign to provide information about the Solingen Artists' Colony at the Black House. Here is some information about the first painter of the Artists' Colony, Erwin Bowien.

International Summer Exhibition of the European Artists' Colonies on the theme WATER from 21 July to 15 October 2023

• Visit the digital summer exhibition of European artist colonies on the theme of WATER

• November 2021: Inclusion of the homepage www.erwin-bowien.com in the Swiss Web Archive of the Swiss National Library.
• Presentation of Bowien drawings as part of the historical exhibition curated by the Max Leven Center Solingen e.V.: “... and to say loud: no” in the Center for Persecuted Arts May 8-14. November 2021 at the Kunstmuseum Solingen
• The Dutch author Peter J. H. van den Berg has published a book about the painters of the artists' colony in the Dutch town of Egmond.
  Dutch town of Egmond under the title: De schilders van Egmond.
  Erwin Bowien is honoured in a richly illustrated chapter.

• Exhibition from June 10th to the end of September 2017 in Huys Egmont "Egmondse Kinderportretten door Erwin Bowien 1937-1938": Erwin Bowien received the honorable commission from the municipality of Egmond near Alkmaar to portray all children in the same place on the occasion of the birth of the Dutch Crown Princess Year as the princess was born on the territory of the parish. This collection of children's portraits, unique in the Netherlands, became known under the name “Egmondse Children's Portraits” and is a special art-historical legacy. Most of these child portraits are now owned by the Dutch royal family. The rest are in the Ayech Collection. The name Erwin Bowien is still the first to be associated with this collection of portraits of children in the Netherlands.

• Auction house Koller / Zurich: Auction of an autograph by Erwin Bowien: https://www.kollerauktionen.ch

• Munich, premiere of the film "Vanishing Point in the Allgäu. The Art of Memory: Erwin Bowien in the Kreuzthal", by Georg Bayerle and Rudi Holzberger at Maxim Kino in Munich Neuhausen.

• Georgsmarienhütte, Retrospective of Erwin Bowien in the Museum Villa Stahmer in Georgsmarienhütte (Osnabrücker Land) from October 14th. until November 15th, 2015. More: www.noz.de/lokales/georgsmarienhuette

• Solingen, "Auf der Suche nach Heimat", Retrospektive im Kunstmuseum Solingen vom 10.08.-14.09.2014. More: www.kulturpur.de/museum
• August 13, 2014: Guided tour of the Bergisches Geschichtsverein through the exhibition by Erwin Bowien in the Solingen Art Museum. More:  www.bgv-solingen.de

• Eisenbach, Publication of the book "Vanishing point in Allgäu, Fascination Adelegg", Erwin Bowien in Kreuzthal, reportage on Erwin Bowien in his Kreuzthaler exile by Dr. Rudi Holzberger at Adelegg Verlag, Eisenbach

• Weil am Rhein, large retrospective of the artist Erwin Bowien in the Municipal Museum on Lindenplatz in Weil am Rhein from October 13th, 2013 to July 27th, 2014, a brochure accompanying the exhibition will appear
• More: www.verlagshaus-jaumann.de

• Isny (Eisenbach),Exhibition with works by Erwin Bowien, which were created in the Allgäu, the exhibition is extended until 2014 due to the great popularity

• München, Bayerischer Rundfunk: In December 2011, the radio broadcast of the BR broadcasted the elaborately produced radio play "The Lost Morning Hours", in which actors read the dialogues from Erwin Bowien's war memoirs.
• Exhibition of the Association for Philately and Postal History Solingen 1903 eV in the Theater and Konzerthaus Solingen under the title "The Solingen painter Erwin Bowien (1899 1972) writes to Solingen newspaper editors": The exhibition included the presentation of numerous original letters from the artist as well as self-illustrated postcards from Bowien with motifs from his everyday life and his many trips and sent them to Solingen newspaper editors over the years. The highlight of the exhibition was a sketch that was created during the final of the football World Cup in Bern in 1954 and which Erwin Bowien sent to his former Solingen student , the newspaper editor Scheffer, as a postcard.

• Biberach, Publication "Die Adelegg, the dark heart of the Allgäu" by Rudi Holzberger and Manfred Thierer with a text about Erwin Bowien in the Biberacher publishing house

• Solingen, Oeuvre Ausstellung von Erwin Bowien in der Galerie Liberal (26.08 bis 06.10.)
• In a burglary on the night of September 29th to 30th, 2006, which has not yet been clarified, five paintings by Erwin Bowien, some of them large-format, are stolen from the “Black House” in Solingen - apparently deliberately. Among these paintings there are three masterpieces: The Emmerich Rhine Bridge, 1968 (catalog raisonné N ° 795), Colosseum of Rome by night, 1934 (catalog raisonné N ° 1078) and the famous "night picture" a painting by Erna and Hanns Heinen from 1931 (Catalog raisonné N ° 57).

• On September 14, 2003, Ms. Anne M. Rauch gave a lecture at a meeting of the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V. in the moated castle Hackhausen in Solingen with the title: "The painter Erwin Bowien - a pioneer of international understanding".

• Paris, the publisher L'Harmattan publishes Erwin Bowien's diary “Heures Perdues du Matin, Journal d´un Artiste Peintre, Alpes Bavaroises (1944-1945), ISBN: 2-7475-0040-3, published by Bernard Zimmermann, who published the original French text by Bowien brought in pressure-ready form
• Freiburg, Publication of the volume "Die Maler des Markgräflerlandes" by Hans H. Hofstätter and Berthold Hänel at Schillinger Verlag in Freiburg
• Donation of the Kirsten collection to the Kunstmuseum Solingen, including - among other things - the important oil painting by Erwin Bowien "The Cologne Cathedral at Night" from 1970 (catalog raisonné N ° 830)
• Kunstverein Eschweiler: As part of the retrospective of Bowien student Bettina Heinen-Ayech at the Kunstverein in Eschweiler from December 17th, 2000 - January 14th, 2001, there will be a subsequent presentation of works by Erwin Bowien.

• Solingen, Museum Baden (October 3rd to November 15th), retrospective on the occasion of Erwin Bowien's 100th birthday. The retrospective is organized by the museum in cooperation with the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V. Pictures from the holdings of the museum, from the municipal art collection and from numerous Bergische and Rheinische collections are presented.

• Weil am Rhein, Municipal gallery Stapflehus (20.11. To 19.12.), Organized by the Municipal Office of Culture. The retrospective is being carried out by the municipal cultural office in Weil am Rhein on the occasion of the artist's 100th birthday. Pictures from the city's art collection as well as from numerous southern German collections are presented.

• On the occasion of the artist's 100th birthday, TV. "FAB television" station in Berlin broadcast several times as a repeat of the film "Bettina Heinen-Ayech: Letter to Erwin Bowien".

• Solingen, Publication of the catalog raisonné: Erwin Bowien (1899-1972) catalog raisonné catalog-Raisonné-Werkoverzicht, ISBN 3-88234-101-7, published by Bettina Heinen-Ayech and the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V., U-Form-Verlag, Solingen, 1999

• The Algerian poet Achmed Achouri wrote and published a poem about the artist on the 100th anniversary of the death of the painter Erwin Bowien with the title: "Bowien paints Heliopolis". This poem was published on November 5th, 1999 in the Algerian daily newspaper "El Nacer". Erwin Bowien has painted numerous pictures in Eastern Algeria and the Sahara. In 1971 the work "Street trees in Heliopolis" (catalog raisonné Bowien N ° 848) was created in the municipality of Heliopolis near Guelma.

• On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of the painter Erwin Bowien, the Algerian poet Achmed Achouri wrote and published a poem about the artist entitled: "Bowien paints Heliopolis". This poem was published in the Algerian daily newspaper "El Nacer" on 05 November 1999. Erwin Bowien has painted numerous pictures in Eastern Algeria and the Sahara. In 1971, he created the work "Street Trees in Heliopolis" in the municipality of Heliopolis near Guelma (catalogue raisonné Bowien WV N° 848).
  

• Solingen, Hans Karl Pesch creates a film documentation of an analysis of E. Bowien's painting style, premiered in 1996 in Castle Burg on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Erwin Bowien e.V.

• Stadtsparkasse Solingen: Works by Erwin Bowien are presented in the exhibition "Solingen as painters saw it". The exhibition was organized by the Bergisches Geschichtsverein.

• Solingen, Bergisches Museum, Schloss Burg an der Wupper (22.09 bis 20.10.), Opening speech by Bettina Heinen-Ayech

• "Romerike Berge", the magazine for the Bergisches Land 46th year 1996, issue 3 is published with a colored cover picture by Bowien from 1950 (a Wupperkotten that has since broken off) and an article with four colored pictures by Hans Karl Pesch.

• Solingen,Publication of the autobiography Erwin Bowiens "The beautiful game between spirit and world - my life as a painter, with 16 color and 26 black and white illustrations ISBN 3-88234-101-7

• German Blade Museum Solingen: Works by Erwin Bowien are presented in the exhibition "Pictures and Sculptures, Created by Solingen".

• Algier/Solingen, Film by Hassan Bouabdellah about the Bowien student Bettina Heinen-Ayech with the title "Bettina Heinen-Ayech: Letter to Erwin Bowien". There is a French version entitled "Bettina Heinen-Ayech: Lettre à Erwin Bowien". The film was broadcast on several television channels in Europe and Algeria, presentations in museums and cinematheques, official selection at the Montreal Cultural Film Festival

• Paintings by Erwin Bowien are presented as part of the exhibition "Schirm, Objekte aus Handwerk, Mode und Kunst" at the Klingenmuseum Solingen. The exhibition was hosted by the Landschaftsverband Rheinland.

• Solingen, Stadtsparkasse Solingen (10.09. bis 04.10.), Topic: Portraits and portraits of Solingen citizens, opening speech by Bettina Heinen-Ayech, a catalog was published: text by Diana Millies

• The art collection of the Bergisches Geschichtsverein is enriched by a portrait of Professor Julius Bernhardt by Erwin Bowien in 1925

• Weil am Rhein: Sparkasse Markgräfler Land (23.08. bis 16.09) under the theme “Dreiländereck”, opening speech Bettina Heinen-Ayech

• Remscheid, Theatergalerie (11.09. bis 23.10.), Introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch

• Solingen, Stadtsparkasse Solingen (16.09. bis 16.10.), Author: Holland 1932-1942. Introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch. Bowien's works, which are owned by the Dutch royal family, were made available to the public for the first time. An exhibition catalog was published, text by Hans Karl Pesch.

• Weil am Rhein, Sparkasse Markgräfler Land (10.11. bis 02.12.), Topic: Holland 1932-1942, opening speech by Alfred Dietz

• Publication of a comprehensive article by Alfred Dietz, with numerous illustrations in volume 2 of the almanac “Das Markgräfler Land”, born in 1986

• Algier, Goethe-Institut (19. bis 30.11.), under the patronage of the German Ambassador Dr. Heinz Dröge, introductory speech by Prof. Ali Ali-Khodja. Ms. Marianne Kopatz sang poems by Hanns Heinen, composed by Dr. Peter Költringer.

• Weil am Rhein, Municipal gallery Stapflehus (15.03. bis 08.04.)
• Donation of Bowien Pictures from the Swiss Eggenberger Collection to the art collection in the German Blade Museum Solingen, today in the Art Museum Solingen
• Solingen, Deutsches Klingenmuseum (19.08. bis 07.10),  Topic: Representation of the Rhine from its sources to its mouths, opening speech by Hans Karl Pesch

• In the lecture series "Significant Solingen" of the local association of Solingen in the "Bergisches Geschichtsverein", the art historian Hans Karl Pesch gave a public slide lecture on March 15, 1983 in the city of Sparkasse in Solingen with the title "Erwin Bowien - man and painter".

• Solingen, Exhibition entitled "Bergisches Land" in the Deutsches Klingenmuseum (September 11th to 26th)
• Public lecture from selected writings by Erwin Bowien by Dr. Dieter Freiling and public slide show on Erwin Bowien's drawn letters by Hans-Karl Pesch / Haan in the German Blade Museum in Solingen on 11.09.1982

• Solingen, Publication of a monograph on Erwin Bowien, written by art critic and vice-president of the Erwin Bowien e.V., Hans Karl Pesch, with contributions in English and French as well as 13 color and 33 black and white illustrations of pictures and drawings

1980

• Remscheid, Municipal Museum of Local History Remscheid-Hasten (July 6th to August 24th), opening speech by Hans Karl Pesch

• Weil am Rhein,Municipal Museum of Local History (03.09.), Commemoration for the 80th birthday of Erwin Bowien
• Donation to the art collection of the city of Weil am Rhein by the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V. of a sketchbook with motifs from a Norwegian trip by the artist

• Buchschlag Dreieich, Bürgersaal (06. bis 17.09.), organized by the Buchschlag Cultural Association, opened by Mayor Meudt and President Bettina Heinen-Ayech
• Solingen, Hotel Stadt Solingen (August 31 to October 1). New compositions by Werner Krahnert based on poems by Hanns Heinen were premiered.
• Establishment of a permanent "Bowien Stube" in the museum on Lindenplatz in Weil am Rhein. The inauguration took place during a festive ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Weil am Rhein - Mr Boll - and Mr Fallet-von Castelberg, a great collector of Erwin Bowien and Head of the Swiss Federal Railways.
• Donation to the art collection of the city of Weil am Rhein of a self-portrait by Erwin Bowien by Ms. Bettina Heinen-Ayech

• Bern, Galerie d´Art Münster (25.01. bis 15.02.). Opening by Dr. E. M. Fallet
• The Swiss magazine "Leben und Glaube" was published on September 17, 1977 with a colored cover, a flower picture (1962) by Erwin Bowien
• Weil am Rhein, Local history museum of the city of Weil am Rhein, inauguration of the Bowienstube (October 22), introductory words by Dr. E. M. Fallet
• Haus der Volksbildung / Weil am Rhein, (22. und 23.11.), Exhibition from Weiler privately owned
• Algier, Art association, gallery Mohamed Racim (15.11.bis 26.11)

• Gladbeck (Stadt Bottrop), Wasserschloß Wittringen (14.03. bis 25.04), Introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch

• Solingen (Klingenmuseum), the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V. was founded on October 2, 1976, first president: Dr. Eduard M. Fallet, second president: Bettina Heinen-Ayech

• Weil am Rhein, Haus der Volksbildung (03.bis011.05.). Opening by Dr. E. M. Fallet, Bern
• On May 27, 1975 Dr. Dieter Freiling gave a lecture in the Solingen Rotary Club on the subject "The fullness of life - seen by the artists Erwin Bowien, Hanns Heinen and Bettina Heinen-Ayech", plus presentation of Bowien's pictures by Bettina Heinen-Ayech.

• Solingen, Deutsches Klingenmuseum (15.05. bis 13.07.), together with pictures of his teacher Robert Engels, introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch. Songs by Werner Krahnert based on lyrical poems by Hanns Heinen were premiered.

• Weil am Rhein, exhibition in the Bowiens residence (January 2nd to 14th and December 1st to 15th), introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch.
• Rabat / Morocco, exhibition at the Goethe Institute (December 4th to 14th), opening by the German ambassador Dr. Hendus.

• Springe / Deister, exhibition in the district home museum (25.08.0 bis 30.09), introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch