Review of 2024 – A year full of challenges and opportunities.
A year like a canvas on which light and shadow, highs and lows, hope and disappointment have come together. It was a year that shaped and challenged me not only as a person, but also as an artist. Here I try to write a review that summarizes my memories and my notes on the year 2024: My memories of what was, stories behind my artworks and a few special moments.
To sum up in four words: not an easy year.
- Art
- 54 works created this year (28 on canvas, 26 on paper)
- not a single work sold (only one auctioned for charity)
- Private
- human disappointments
- a death in the family
- My health: heart attack, recurring episodes of depression, hospital stays
- Our young dog’s illness, which cannot be cured and will affect him for the rest of his life
I picked up a pen and notebook a lot more often this year and wrote down my thoughts. In this post, I would like to publish some of the things I wrote down.
A longstanding wish comes true: Hilton moves in in April
A special highlight of the year was the arrival of our Labrador puppy Hilton in April. With him, a long-cherished wish came true for me. Hilton has enriched our lives with his cheerful, inquisitive nature and brings joy to our lives every day. Even though he now needs special care due to an illness, he has shown us how important patience, love and solidarity are.
The time we spent together with Hilton gave me new energy even in difficult moments and was often reflected in my art – in colors and lively structures.
Art as an anchor in turbulent times.
At the beginning of the year, I had clear goals: to further develop my artistic skills and add new depth to my work. But 2024 had a few surprises in store that forced me to pause and rethink.
In the quiet hours in front of the easel, on canvas and paper, I found solace and clarity.
B.W.
Although it was not an easy year – not a single work of art was sold, only one was auctioned and I suffered health setbacks – art showed me again and again how valuable it is for my life. In the quiet hours in front of the easel or a sheet of paper, I found solace and clarity. In particular, working with reduced media such as graphite and charcoal became a kind of meditative exercise for me. These works, characterized by a sensitive balance of abstraction and non-objectivity, reflect the emotions and thoughts that have accompanied me this year.
New connections through social media
In addition to the challenges, the year has also shown me how important and enriching human connections can be. I have met new and wonderful people this year, particularly through social media, who have become an important part of my life despite the physical distance. The exchange, mutual understanding and support have given me a lot of strength this year – and often also provided inspiration for new works.
For me, these connections are proof of how art, creativity and communication can build bridges, even across great distances.
Highlights 2024: exhibitions, fundraising and new techniques.
One of the highlights of the year was my first solo exhibition in Torgau, which took place from May to September 2024. This exhibition gave me the opportunity to present my works in a new context and experience a direct exchange with the public. The response was overwhelming and showed me how universal art can be as a language.
I also took part in a group exhibition in Magdeburg in April, which not only gave me inspiration through the exchange with an artist and visitors, but also opened up new perspectives on my own work.
A special highlight and a matter close to my heart was a fundraising campaign in July for the Burg animal shelter. The auction of one of my works not only provided financial support, but also drew attention to the valuable work of the animal shelter through press reports. It was a wonderful moment to see how art can have a positive impact.
Light and shadow – an artistic journey.
2024 was also a year of experimentation and diversity for me. Whether it’s colorful, powerful works such as “Call Me Vibrant” or the meditative series “Silent Poetry” – my works reflect the contrasts that have shaped this year. The “Noir et Lumière” series, with its exploration of light and shadow, is particularly close to my heart. It invites the viewer to pause and discover the subtle nuances that exist between light and dark.
Health setbacks and new perspectives.
On a personal level, my heart attack at the end of September was a major event. Two stays in hospital and the restrictions and changes to my everyday life caused by the heart attack have presented and continue to present me with major challenges – both physically and mentally. Mentally, because the depression always comes back and tries to gain the upper hand. But during all this time, the power of art was reaffirmed. Once again, it became a form of healing for me.
During this time, working with small-format works helped me to focus and gain new perspectives. These works not only reflect my inner processes, but also testify to the resilience that art gives me.
Healing does not happen suddenly, but in layers – and each layer is reflected in my art.
B.W.
An outlook.
Looking back, this year has taught me how important it is to keep at it, even when the going gets tough. Art remains my greatest passion and my strongest anchor. I have big plans for the coming year: new projects, exhibitions and a further deepening of my techniques.
Many thanks to everyone who has supported, inspired and accompanied me this year. Your words, interest and appreciation mean more to me than I can express in words.
Book and art catalog.
Book “Art & Works 2024”
As in previous years, I have compiled my works of the year in a book and art catalog. Would you like to find out more about my journey in 2024 and see the works of the year in a book?
Are you interested? Order my art catalog now Art & Works 2024 – Harmony of opposites.
I wish you a wonderful start to the new year and look forward to everything that 2025 will bring us in a positive light.
Björn Wiedemann,
December 2024