Georg Hadeler – Retrospective Exhibition

In his lithographs, drawings and paintings, Hadeler explores themes such as the labyrinth, the journey, dreaming and human consciousness. The labyrinth is a recurring motif in his work: staircases lead to unknown destinations, end abruptly or conceal hidden spaces. These architectural motifs contribute to a tranquil, sometimes mystical atmosphere, in which questions are raised about life and humanity’s place within it. His work bridges the worlds of reason and dreams, philosophy and psychology, ritual and imagination.

Hadeler draws inspiration from diverse cultures and schools of thought. Travel plays an important role in his visual language: the staircases, pagodas and layered structures in his work refer to Inca architecture and Japanese temple complexes, where mysticism, ceremony and attention to materials take centre stage. He experiences his surroundings so intensely that everything that takes place within them can influence the final artwork. A rare path hidden amongst the greenery of his back garden in The Hague, the whimsical shapes of a tree stump on the beach, beautiful graffiti on a city wall: it is simply impossible to predict what will inspire him or what the work will ultimately look like.

As an internationally acclaimed master lithographer, Hadeler exhibited frequently in Japan and Peru, and taught for many years at the Free Academy and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague. His work bears witness to a deep love for the craft: the physical process of working with lithographic stones, the time-intensive nature of the printing process and the sensory experience of the material all play an essential role.

The tension of searching for what is missing, for the intangible, acts as a catalyst for his imagination. Hadeler continues his quest, and on his journey, the unpredictability and mystery of life’s winding paths determine his course. He offers his art as Ariadne’s thread, so that we may enter the labyrinth of our own world of experience with confidence and experience its richness.

With thanks to Drs. Liesbeth Gerretsen and Jonathan Hielkema for their contributions to this text.