The World of Clowns

The cabinet piece "Smile at the Foot of the Ladder" by Henri Miller from 1948 tells the story of a clown who is not content with just making people "laugh."

He wants to give them bliss, to offer them "the gift of an unceasing, constantly reawakening joy." The circus story describes a world full of pain and sentiment. Themes of identity formation, existential crises, and the absurd dominate the narrative.

In the visual arts, there are prominent examples that have taken up this theme. Painters such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fernand Léger, and Joan Miró were drawn to the world of performers. For them, the motifs of clowns were a melancholic symbol, a metaphor for the artist, and indeed for life itself.

For Rolf Knie, the access to clowns is elemental and authentic. "The good and bad memories allow me today to paint clowns convincingly. I know how they feel because I was one of them."

Traumduo Gaston + Rolf, 2022

Original auf Kalkpapier, A3

Wo sind die Clowns geblieben? 2022

Mischtechnik auf Chapiteau, 85 x 89 cm

With his depictions, Rolf Knie, with a keen sense, recognizes human nature and touches the soul. He acts as a master of the psyche, knowing how to conquer the hearts of viewers with profound and deeply felt works.

Here, art is expressed that Rolf Knie learned and experienced as a child and performer. The circus ring is the place where human emotions are awakened through traditions. He knows how to convey what he offers. His personality acts as a bridge between the images and their admirers. From a young age, Rolf Knie had a great love for clowns, but also deep respect.

"I believed that being a clown requires a certain maturity. A clown is certainly not someone who acts silly all day. He is more like a philosopher and certainly does not walk around with a cardboard nose all the time. Being a clown requires a certain depth. He is definitely always a very sensitive person with thin skin. He is vulnerable and, therefore, suitable to parody life. The way he handles life – it’s always laughable, but it must never be foolish. Getting this right – making people laugh, yes, but never being hurtful – that’s what makes the clown."

Tenta, 2009

Mischtechnik auf Chapiteau

Rolf Knie Originals

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