Above all, nature enchants me, the world enchants me.
They make me want to embrace them, caress them,
to breathe deeply, to roll in the grass.
The texts in this book were originally written in French. The collection of images and texts was awarded the Poésie21 prize in 2019, in Aix-en-Provence. For this bilingual edition, the poems were translated into English by the writer and art historian Martha Breckenridge.
France has been my home since 2014, after having worked there for years parallel to my teaching activities in Germany, where I was born.
The mainstay of my work is in genesis, where the visible and invisible create the world. I do not want to reproduce or represent the retinal image, but to capture the genius of the beginning, where thought seems fluid and space can organize itself anew. When my work begins in nature, it is to "listen". I want to entrust myself to a state of availability, above consciousness. From this starting point I begin to work with color. Sometimes it may even feel like creating chaos, inviting hazard, imperfection, which I welcome with humility. A new world emerges, creates its rules.
The plastic arts produce visible forms that impose themselves. A painting is there, it will be seen again and again, it reveals itself in the course of time.
I feel the responsibility I have. It is a goal and even a duty. I want to show the beauty of the world and offer my own part of it, out of gratitude.
The gallery I founded is a space for sharing and learning. Welcoming the public into my studio is an integral part of my work. The way others see, the questions they ask, and the feelings they express will influence my painting: moving forward while staying grounded.
Peintures inspirées de la poésie de Saint-John Perse
Peintures inspirées de la poésie de Saint-John Perse
Sainte-Victoire et les forêts cezanniennes, Aix-en-Provence, 2026
Dans la colline présente une sélection de peintures réalisées entre 2018 et 2025 autour du domaine de Châteaunoir et de la montagne Sainte-Victoire. Le catalogue illustre plusieurs aspects de mon travail d’artiste, son évolution, et raconte mon cheminement artistique et spirituel : face à l'expérience sensible du lieu, la technique s’affirme et s’adapte, comme ce fut le cas pour les artistes qui nous ont précédés.
Mon approche artistique se distingue des tentatives visant à trouver un style ou à rejoindre une école. Je la considère comme fluide, elle tient compte de la complexité du monde. Il y a une interaction et une influence permanentes entre l’artiste, le lieu et l’œuvre. L’œuvre ne se contente pas d'être un témoignage, elle devient sujet, elle-même actrice. Ainsi, le travail de l'artiste participe à la construction du monde et à son évolution.
Châteaunoir, qui a marqué l’œuvre de Paul Cezanne, se trouve dans les collines, entre la route de Tholonet et les carrières de Bibémus. Le domaine est privé et préservé dans son authenticité. Propriété de la famille Vieil-Tessier, elle a toujours accueilli des artistes et des chercheurs. Le paysage s’en trouve imprégné, on y sent une présence propre à leur histoire et leurs œuvres. Réciproquement, leur histoire et leurs œuvres, comme les miennes, sont imprégnées du lieu.
The artistic process of perceiving and conceiving nature between
Sainte-Victoire and the sylvan landscapes that inspired Paul Cezanne. Aix-en-Provence, 2026
On the hills (Dans la colline) is a series of paintings created between 2018 and 2025 around the Châteaunoir estate and the Sainte-Victoire mountain range. The catalogue showcases various aspects of my artistic journey, documenting its evolution and bearing witness to my artistic and spiritual research. When confronted with the sensory experience of the location, my technique asserts itself and evolves. The foundations laid by previous and contemporary artists and philosophies enrich my background.
My artistic approach differs from the pursuit of a particular style or school. I consider it fluid, acknowledging the complexity of the world. There is a constant interplay of influences between the artist, the place and the work. The work is not just a record; it becomes a subject and an autonomous entity. Thus, the artist's work contributes to the construction and evolution of the world.
Châteaunoir left its mark on Paul Cezanne's paintings. This private estate, located among the hills between the road to Le Tholonet and the Bibémus quarries, has kept its authenticity ever since. The Vieil-Tessier family has owned it for generations and has always welcomed artists and researchers. Their presence permeates the landscape, and their legacy is a tangible part of the environment. Likewise, the spirit of the place is embodied in their history and works, as it is in mine.
CEZANNE À CHÂTEAU NOIR - L'histoire d'une fascination...
...celle de Cezanne pour Château Noir, un singulier domaine posé au pied de la montagne Sainte-Victoire qui lui a inspiré ses œuvres majeures. Mais, au lendemain de la disparition du peintre, cette fascination deviendra très vite celle de dizaines de grands artistes, écrivains et philosophes, venus du monde entier à Château Noir...
Un chapitre m'y est consacré : "MIRIAM HARTMANN - L'élévation à Château Noir"
Thierry Maugenest et William Drea Adams, Éditions Hervé Chopin
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