Loki, lives and loves of a master painter

Lodewijk Bruckman

Thirty years after his death, MOW | Museum Westerwolde presents an exhibition about the life and work of fine painter Lodewijk “Loki” Bruckman (1903–1995).

In the 1980s, Bruckman and his partner lived for several years opposite the museum and donated a series of paintings to the then municipality of Bellingwedde, now part of the museum’s collection.

See and Do
The exhibition presents a range of his original works, offers insight into the painter’s life and loves, and makes space for responses by contemporary artists. Young visitors can follow their own exciting route through the exhibition.

Magical Realist
Bruckman’s paintings have lost none of their power over time. His colors are as vivid as when he mixed his oil paints himself. His compositions still inspire wonder. The longer you stand before a painting, the more details you discover: the fibers of a rope, the delicate lines of a feather, the frayed edge of a piece of fabric… painted so realistically that you feel you could almost pick them off the canvas.

In terms of content, you wander among symbols of growth and stagnation, opportunities and reversals, and life and death. “Out of what decays, something new always arises” was not without reason the artist’s motto.

Interpretations
Following the open call Appeltje, eitje, contemporary artists created work inspired by Bruckman: Sacha van Aarde, Margot Brekelmans, Shiv Fernando, Frans van Hoek, Sandra Kip, Mia Meijers, Merve Namidar, Dineke Oosting, Tineke Otten, Theo Overgaauw, Caroline Penris, August Robin Peters, Willem van de Sanden, and Brenda Vonk Noordegraaf. Their work is also on display in the exhibition.