January 27, 2026
152nd Entry, Brienzwiler
Long ago, very long ago, I was a hunter and gatherer. Today, I am an artist and collector, or rather a seeker, finder, or even recipient of various natural materials and raw materials. Interestingly, statues of the Virgin Mary made of plaster or wood keep finding their way to me, like this one here:
When delivering a work of art, the customer offered me this statue. I hesitated and was not enthusiastic because the Madonna was darkly stained and highly polished. However, her face radiated charm, kindness, and warmth, so I bought it. It stood in my studio for quite a while, waiting to be restored.
The curls of her hair, now gilded with gold leaf, the wood lightened and waxed; she now shines on a white console in front of an almost empty picture. I created this picture independently of her and had other plans for it. One day, I placed the Madonna in front of this rust-brown, warm-toned picture with its baroque frame in copper tones. And then I saw it: the Madonna began to glow, and her love flowed to me. So, everything fell into place and came together at the right time. Like so much in life.
As I finished the work on January 18, completely immersed in this maternal love, our daughter gave birth to her second child. A boy. Felix.