WILHELM BRONNER David Hall

WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14 th Nov. 2012
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WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
History
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14 th Nov. 2012
In the 16th and 17th centuries, when European powers were trying to establish their trading might over India, the Dutch decided to
pick out a relatively quiet place to retreat to. Cochin was a suitable spot. They wrested Cochin from the Portugues in January 1663.
In 1669, Hendrik Adriaan Van Rheede Tot Drakestein was appointed the first independent commancer, giving him military and civil
administrative rights, in the region. The forts were the centres of administration and trade and, apart from coastal towns, no land was
taken possession of. According to historic accounts, Van Rheede was the only Dutchman who had personal and social contacts with
the local people, an a thorough knowledge of the land.
Van Rheede is best remembered for the compilation titled Hortus Malabaricus, (meaning Garden of Malabar) a comprehensive treatise
on the flora of Malabar Coast, assisted by the ayurveda physician Itti Achuden. Others who contributed included Ranga Bhat, Vinayaka Pandit and Appu Bhat. Originally written in Latin, it was compiled over a period of nearly 30 years and published from Amsterdam
during 1678 - 1693.
The Hortus Malabaricus comprises 12 volumes of about 500 pages each, with 794 copper plate engravings. The first of the 12 volumes
that comprise the book was published in 1678, and the last in 1703. Over 742 different plants and their indigenous science are considered in the book. The book also employs a system of classification based on the traditions adopted by the indigenous practitioners of
that era. Apart from Latin, the plants names have been recorded in other languages viz. Konkani, Arabic and Malayalam.
The book brought under its mission physicians, professors of medicine and botany, botanists, illustrators, engravers and clergymen.
In fact, in return for the help offerd by Fev.Fr.Matheus Ö.C.D, permission was given by the Governer for the construction of the Mount
Camel Church at Chathiath in Ernakulam in 1673.
The Dutch East Company is believed to have erected three houses somtime between the late 1670s and 1690s using some of the
material from demolished Porugues churches. David Hall is what remains of the three houses. What purpose the structure served is
not known today, though historical hea rsay suggest it could have been the residence of Van Rheede. Quite probably David Hall was
the premises in which Van Rheede and the compilers of the compendium on ayurvedic herbal plants may have worked. The structure
was christened David Hall when it was bought by the Jewish Koder familiy, who lived there.
Today, the beautiful ancient bungalow, a shared legacy of India and Netherlands has been restored by CGH Earth and CNO (Stichting
Cultuurgeschiedens Nederlanders Overzee) to take on a new life as a cultural centre with a gallery for contemporary art, with a focus
on providing a platfrom for young artist. With ist café and space for performing arts, the historic building could be an inspiring, vibrant
meeting place for fresh talent and lovers of art.
(from the brochure - David Hall / a cgh experience)
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WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14 th Nov. 2012
Motivation & Idea
When I saw the classical Hortus Malabaricus in Cochin/Kerala the first time I was deeply impressed by the beauty and timelessness
of the botanical work and was also astonished how this work of the late 17th century was created.
Historical aspect: The scientific work has to be seen as an unusal cooperative work between the Dutch invadors and the local people. Over a period of 20 years Adrian Van Rheede, Govenor of Cochin and the Malabar Coast and Itty Achuthan, head of the local
Brahmans were constantly working together. They described 742 plants of the Hortus Malabaricus that nowadays still find its use in
Ayurvedic treatment.
Aesthetic aspect: I am fascinated by the beauty and precision of the drawings reflecting the impressing diversity of the flora of the
Malabar Coast. The fact that each plant is combined with the fine calligraphy of four languages makes the drawings even more interesting.
Technical aspect: Feather drawing is the basic technique - in both the original and my work. However, I am going to use white colour
on framed painted wooden background instead of the classical black ink on paper.
My installation The New Hortus Malabaricus consists of 120 parts. It will be arranged in 12 x 10 rows which represents the 12 books
with 10 drawings each. It also can be shown in a different way depending on the conditions referring size and measurement of the
room - or in variations of differnet blocks like in David Hall.
The installation is to be understood as an honour to the extroadinary original work with a new and modern artistic approach. It is a
cross-section representing all 12 volumes. The 120 single paintings of the installation can be read now as an open book. I am going
to open each single page and demonstrate one book as a whole.
The installation will be demonstrated with copies of the 12 books of the Horuts which can be seen in a cupboard.
My appreciation and respect for the traditional Hortus Malabaricus will find its main aspect in the exhibition with the installation The
New Hortus Malabaricus in David Hall - the former residence of Van Rheede.
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WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14 th Nov. 2012
Original drawings
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WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14 th Nov. 2012
Concept 1.0
Original
12 volumes
742 ink drawings on paper
(50 x 40 cm)
Description in Latin, Malayalam, Arabic and
Konkani
Numbering of each figure
Remake
Installation
120 ink drawings
on painted and framed wood (12 x 40 cm)
Description in Latin (red colour)
Malayalam, Arabic and Konkani
Numbering of each figure
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WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14 th Nov. 2012
12 drawings on painted and framed wood (12 x 40 cm) / description in Latin (red colour) Malayalam, Arabic and Konkani / numbering of each figure
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WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14th Nov. 2012
Tues - Sun 10 am - 7 pm
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Installation 2012
acrylic/wood 200 x 500 cm
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WILHELM BRONNER David Hall
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Gallery & Café
1/264 Opp. Parade Ground
Fort Cochin / Kerala / India
21 th Oct. - 14 th Nov. 2012
1954 born in Memmingen, Germany / 1976 freelance painter / 1981 Art Incentive Prize
from the City of Augsburg, Germany / 2004 Art Prize Salon International d´Art de Bourges, France / 2007 Collection Stadtsparkasse Augsburg
Individual Exhibitions (excerpt)
1977 Färberhaus, Augsburg / 1980 Galerie 79, Munich / 1981 Kellergalerie, Municipal Art
Collections Augsburg / 1983 Galerie Horst Dietrich, Berlin / 1984 Henri Gallery, Washington DC, USA / Facchetti & Burk Gallery, New York City, USA / 1986 Galerie Horst Dietrich,
Berlin / Henri Gallery, Washington DC, USA / 1987 Kleines Kunsthaus, Stuttgart 1988 /
Galerie Hierling, Munich / 1994 Antonspfründe, Augsburg / 1996 Antonierhaus, Cultural
Department, Memmingen / 1997 Salomohaus, Augsburg / 1998 Casa Rurale, Saturnia,
Italy / Palazzo, Montefano, Bologna, Italy / 1999 Invitaion from the city of Arica Chile to
a cultural exchange / Casa de la Cultura, Arica, Chile / Goethe-Institut, Santiago, Chile /
Stellwerk, Kassel / 2000 Maison Bomfin, Recife/Olinda, Brasil / Theater Augsburg / Museum Oberschönenfeld / 2001 Städt. Galerie am Graben, Augsburg / 2002 Galerie MZ,
Augsburg / 2003 Galerie Delannoy, La Garde Freinet, France / UNESCO-Projekt, Belgrad, Serbia a. Montenegro / 2004 Castello Galeazza, Emilia Romagna, Italy / Holbeinhaus, Augsburg / 2005 Horst Dietrich Galerie, Berlin / Universitäts-Bibliothek Augsburg /
Stadtsparkasse Augsburg, Friedberg / Galerie am Eichholz, Murnau / 2006 art-Karlsruhe / Schaezlerpalais, Municipal Art Collections Augsburg / 2008 Galerie Seidelstraße,
Murnau / Mozart Anniversary, Stadt Augsburg / 2009 „Dialog 09“ Augsburg-Liberec
Czech Republic / 2010 City Hall Augsburg / Städt. Galerie am Graben, Augsburg / 2011
Port Community Arts Centre, Adelaide, Australia / David Hall, Fort Cochin, Kerala, India
Public Purchases (excerpt)
Bavarian State Art Gallery, Munich / Municipal Art Collections Augsburg / Hessing
Klinik, Augsburg / Sparkasse Schwabmünchen / Zeughaus, Stadt Augsburg / Städt.
Kulturamt Memmingen / Laserzentrum Augsburg / Burke Infratest, Munich / Museum
Oberschönenfeld / Palazzo Montefano, Bologna, Italy / Fondaco Jacobo, Augsburg /
Verlagshaus Gruner&Jahr, Munich / Deuter, Gersthofen / Collection Franke, Paros,
Greece / Uniklinik München/Isar / Oxmox, Augsburg / Eurocopter, Donauwörth /
Stadtsparkasse Augsburg / Arthotek, Munich / Castle of Galeazza, Emilia Romagna, Italy
/ Inlingua Augburg, Bern, Berlin, Luxemburg
The New Hortus Malabaricus
Installation 2012
Contact:
David Hall Gallery
mobile 0894 37 32 7 39
wilhelm@bronner-art.de
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