German comedian Otto Waalkes has opened a comprehensive art exhibition featuring approximately 150 of his works at Dresden's prestigious Taschenbergpalais Kempinski hotel. The 77-year-old entertainer and artist unveiled the exhibition on Saturday, expressing his mission to bring more humor and laughter to the traditionally serious world of galleries and museums. "I always have the feeling that there's too little smiling and even less laughter in galleries and museums," Waalkes said during the opening ceremony.
The exhibition, which runs until January 3rd, is housed in the hotel's historic chapel within the Taschenbergpalais in Dresden's Old Town. Gallery Walentowski is presenting both new original works and prints by the artist, showcasing the breadth of Waalkes' artistic output. The venue choice adds a unique cultural dimension to the hotel property, transforming the sacred space into a contemporary art gallery.
The centerpiece of Waalkes' artistic repertoire is his beloved character, the "Ottifant" - elephant-like creatures that appear throughout his paintings as parodies of famous masterpieces by renowned artists. During his art education studies in the 1970s at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts, where he studied art education, Waalkes familiarized himself with the techniques of the Old Masters. "This way, I could change the models I admired in a parodic way. And for me, parody is the most sincere form of admiration," the artist explained.
Among the featured works is a pigment print titled "The Ottifant Girl," which serves as a playful homage to "The Chocolate Girl," a famous painting housed in Dresden's Old Masters Picture Gallery. In Waalkes' version, the serving tray features a teapot shaped like an Ottifant "with a wonderful East Frisian pattern," as the artist proudly emphasized. This local connection demonstrates how Waalkes draws inspiration from the very city where his exhibition is being held.
Waalkes employs unconventional artistic techniques, including using tea as a primer for his canvases to achieve what he calls an "old master patina." This kitchen-derived approach to art preparation reflects his playful attitude toward traditional artistic methods. He credits the original "Chocolate Girl" painting in Dresden as a direct source of inspiration for his work.
The origin story of the famous Ottifant character reveals Waalkes' humble and humorous approach to art creation. "The Ottifant is the result of a failed self-portrait," he explained during his Dresden appearance. When his self-portrait didn't turn out as planned, he extended the nose, made the eyes more bulging, made the body thick, and added four legs underneath, thus creating his iconic character that would become synonymous with his artistic identity.
Despite being 77 years old, Waalkes shows no signs of slowing down or considering retirement from his dual career in comedy and visual arts. When asked about potentially ending his career, he responded with characteristic enthusiasm: "Why stop? I've just gotten started." This statement reflects the artist's continued passion for creating and his belief that there's still much more work to be accomplished in bringing humor to the art world.
