Samara Blue - My Way Of Art

Ben Mathis was responsible for creating the grid, while the MaJo Brothers created a large part of the figurative elements. Cogwheels of different shapes and sizes alternate with robot-like figures in the individual sections. Robotic arms seem to emerge from windows, moved by a mechanism invisible to the viewer. The grid, rendered in various shades of grey and white, is given striking accents by the additional use of an intense orange-red. During a phone conversation, Ben explained to me, when I asked about it, that this colour provided a good contrast to the neighbouring house and was therefore used. If you look closely, you can see that in the transition area towards house No. 19, the elements blend together in several places, creating subtle but carefully considered transitions to the neighbouring house. Another way of expressing togetherness. To make sure that the façade was not populated solely by figures from the MaJo Brothers, Ben Mathis added some of his own. They can be recognised by their more angular shapes. Since the construction trailers standing in front of the house could not, or were not allowed to, be moved while the façade was being painted, they were simply incorporated into the design. After all, no distracting foreign objects were supposed to appear in the final photographs. But what were the construction trailers needed for? That was a question I first asked myself and then Ben Mathis. At the time, the construction trailers were used as a kind of church. Among other things, they were intended as a place to maintain contact with the residents. Coffee and sandwiches made sure that their physical well-being was not neglected either. As a visible sign of their purpose, portraits of Jesus can be found on the fronts of these trailers. Rumour has it that the clergyman responsible was not particularly pleased with the figurative depiction. Nearly 15 years later, I was unable to find out exactly what was considered wrong with these colourful images of Jesus. Perhaps the lamb’s expression doesn’t look quite as innocent as it should. ;-) For me, they evoke a hint of flower-power feeling. Unfortunately, I’m a little too young to have experienced that era myself. But sometimes I regret that I never had the chance to experience that feeling first-hand in my youth. It is one of the reasons why the Kiefernstraße as a complete work of art fascinates me so much. Krefeld, Juni 2021