Memorial exhibitions, publications and activities after the artist's death
Impressions from the Bowien Retrospective 2014 at the Solingen Art Museum
2022
Establishment of the Bettina Heinen-Ayech Foundation on 7 February 2022
Admission to the Association of German Foundations in March 2022
2021
November 2021:
Inclusion of the homepage www.erwin-bowien.com in the Swiss Web Archive of the Swiss National Library.
Presentation of
Bowien drawings as part of the historical exhibition curated by the Max Leven Center Solingen e.V.: “... and to say loud: no” in the Center for Persecuted Arts May 8-14.November 2021 at the Kunstmuseum Solingen
The Dutch author
Peter J. H. van den Berg has published a book about the painters of the artists' colony in the Dutch town of Egmond.
Dutch town of Egmond under the title: De schilders van Egmond.
Erwin Bowien is honoured in a richly illustrated chapter.
2017
Exhibition from
June 10th to the end of September 2017 in Huys Egmont "Egmondse Kinderportretten door Erwin Bowien 1937-1938": Erwin Bowien received the honorable commission from the municipality of Egmond
near Alkmaar to portray all children in the same place on the occasion of the birth of the Dutch Crown PrincessYear as the princess was born on the territory of the parish.This collection of children's portraits, unique in the Netherlands, became known under the
name “Egmondse Children's Portraits” and is a special art-historical legacy.Most of these child portraits are now owned by the Dutch royal family.The rest are in the Ayech Collection.The name Erwin Bowien is still the first to be associated with this collection of portraits of children in the
Netherlands.
Video Egmondse Kinderporttretten by Erwin Bowien, 1937-1338
Munich, premiere of the film "Vanishing Point in the Allgäu. The Art of Memory: Erwin Bowien in the Kreuzthal", by Georg Bayerle and Rudi Holzberger at Maxim Kino in Munich Neuhausen.
Georgsmarienhütte, Retrospective of Erwin Bowien in the Museum Villa Stahmer in Georgsmarienhütte
(Osnabrücker Land) from October 14th.until November 15th, 2015. More: www.noz.de/lokales/georgsmarienhuette
Solingen, "Auf der Suche nach Heimat", Retrospektive im Kunstmuseum Solingen vom 10.08.-14.09.2014. More: www.kulturpur.de/museum
August 13, 2014:
Guided tour of the Bergisches Geschichtsverein through the exhibition by Erwin Bowien in the Solingen Art Museum.More:www.bgv-solingen.de
2013
Vanishing point in the Allgäu, fascination with Adelegg
Eisenbach, Publication of the book "Vanishing point in Allgäu, Fascination Adelegg", Erwin Bowien in
Kreuzthal, reportage on Erwin Bowien in his Kreuzthaler exile by Dr.Rudi Holzberger at Adelegg Verlag, Eisenbach
Weil am Rhein, large retrospective of the artist Erwin Bowien in the Municipal Museum on Lindenplatz
in Weil am Rhein from October 13th, 2013 to July 27th, 2014, a brochure accompanying the exhibition will appear
Invitation card 2012 to the Erwin Bowien exhibition in Isny (Eisenbach district)
Isny (Eisenbach),Exhibition with works by Erwin Bowien, which were created in the Allgäu, the
exhibition is extended until 2014 due to the great popularity
2011
Verlorenen Morgenstunden
München, Bayerischer Rundfunk: In December 2011, the radio broadcast of the BR broadcasted the
elaborately produced radio play "The Lost Morning Hours", in which actors read the dialogues from Erwin Bowien's war memoirs.
Exhibition of the Association for Philately and Postal History Solingen 1903 eV in the
Theater and Konzerthaus Solingen under the title "The Solingen painter Erwin Bowien (1899 1972) writes to Solingen newspaper editors": The exhibition included the presentation of numerous
original letters from the artist as well as self-illustrated postcards from Bowienwith motifs from his everyday life and his many trips and sent them to Solingen newspaper editors over the years. The
highlight of the exhibition was a sketch that was created during the final of the football World Cup in Bern in 1954 and which Erwin Bowien sent to his former Solingen student, the newspaper editor Scheffer, as a
postcard.
2009
Biberach, Publication "Die Adelegg, the dark heart of the Allgäu" by Rudi Holzberger and Manfred
Thierer with a text about Erwin Bowien in the Biberacher publishing house
2006
Solingen, Oeuvre Ausstellung von Erwin Bowien in der Galerie Liberal (26.08 bis 06.10.)
In a burglary on
the night of September 29th to 30th, 2006, which has not yet been clarified, five paintings by Erwin Bowien, some of them large-format, are stolen from the “Black House” in Solingen -
apparently deliberately.Among these paintings
there are three masterpieces: The Emmerich Rhine Bridge, 1968 (catalog raisonné N ° 795), Colosseum of Rome by night, 1934 (catalog raisonné N ° 1078) and the famous "night picture" a
painting by Erna and Hanns Heinen from 1931(Catalog raisonné N ° 57).
2003
On September 14,
2003, Ms. Anne M. Rauch gave a lecture at a meeting of the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V. in the moated castle Hackhausen in Solingen with the title: "The painter Erwin Bowien - a pioneer of
international understanding".
2000
Heures Perdues du Matin, Journal d´un Artiste Peintre, Alpes Bavaroises
Paris, the publisher L'Harmattan publishes Erwin Bowien's diary “Heures Perdues du Matin, Journal d´un
Artiste Peintre, Alpes Bavaroises (1944-1945), ISBN: 2-7475-0040-3, published by Bernard Zimmermann, who published the original French text byBowien brought in
pressure-ready form
Freiburg, Publication of the volume "Die Maler des Markgräflerlandes" by Hans H. Hofstätter and
Berthold Hänel at Schillinger Verlag in Freiburg
Donation of the Kirsten collection to the Kunstmuseum Solingen, including - among other
things - the important oil painting by Erwin Bowien "The Cologne Cathedral at Night" from 1970 (catalog raisonné N ° 830)
Kunstverein Eschweiler: As
part of the retrospective of Bowien student Bettina Heinen-Ayech at the Kunstverein in Eschweiler from December 17th, 2000 - January 14th, 2001, there will be a subsequent presentation of
works by Erwin Bowien.
1999
Solingen, Museum
Baden (October 3rd to November 15th), retrospective on the occasion of Erwin Bowien's 100th birthday.The retrospective is organized by the museum in cooperation with the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V.Pictures from the holdings of the museum, from the municipal
art collection and from numerous Bergische and Rheinische collections are presented.
Invitation card on the occasion of Erwin Bowien's 100th birthday
Weil am Rhein, Municipal gallery Stapflehus (20.11. To 19.12.), Organized by the Municipal Office of
Culture.The retrospective is being carried out by the municipal cultural office in Weil am Rhein on
the occasion of the artist's 100th birthday.Pictures from the city's art collection as well as from numerous southern German collections are presented.
On the occasion of the artist's 100th birthday, TV."FAB television" station in Berlin broadcast several times as a repeat of
the film "Bettina Heinen-Ayech: Letter to Erwin Bowien".
Solingen, Publication of the catalog raisonné: Erwin Bowien (1899-1972) catalog raisonné
catalog-Raisonné-Werkoverzicht, ISBN 3-88234-101-7, published by Bettina Heinen-Ayech and the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V., U-Form-Verlag, Solingen, 1999
The Algerian poet
Achmed Achouri wrote and published a poem about the artist on the 100th anniversary of the death of the painter Erwin Bowien with the title: "Bowien paints Heliopolis".This poem was published on November 5th, 1999 in the Algerian
daily newspaper "El Nacer".Erwin Bowien has
painted numerous pictures in Eastern Algeria and the Sahara.In 1971 the work "Street trees in Heliopolis" (catalog raisonné Bowien N ° 848) was created in the municipality of Heliopolis near Guelma.
1998
On the occasion of
the 100th anniversary of the death of the painter Erwin Bowien, the Algerian poet Achmed Achouri wrote and published a poem about the artist entitled: "Bowien paints Heliopolis". This poem
was published in the Algerian daily newspaper "El Nacer" on 05 November 1999. Erwin Bowien has painted numerous pictures in Eastern Algeria and the Sahara. In 1971, he created the work
"Street Trees in Heliopolis" in the municipality of Heliopolis near Guelma (catalogue raisonné Bowien WV N° 848).
1996
Solingen, Hans Karl Pesch creates a film documentation of an analysis of E. Bowien's painting style,
premiered in 1996 in Castle Burg on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Erwin Bowien e.V.
Stadtsparkasse Solingen: Works by Erwin Bowien are presented in the exhibition "Solingen
as painters saw it".The exhibition was
organized by the Bergisches Geschichtsverein.
Solingen, Bergisches Museum, Schloss Burg an der Wupper (22.09 bis 20.10.), Opening speech by
Bettina Heinen-Ayech
In the Bergisches Museum Schloss Burg an der Wupper, 1996
"Romerike Berge", the magazine for the Bergisches Land 46th year 1996, issue 3 is published with a
colored cover picture by Bowien from 1950 (a Wupperkotten that has since broken off) and an article with four colored pictures by Hans Karl Pesch.
Romerike Berge - Magazin fo the Bergische Land
1995
Solingen,Publication of the autobiography Erwin Bowiens "The beautiful game between spirit and world
- my life as a painter, with 16 color and 26 black and white illustrations ISBN 3-88234-101-7
German Blade Museum Solingen: Works by Erwin Bowien are presented in the exhibition
"Pictures and Sculptures, Created by Solingen".
1993
Algier/Solingen, Film by Hassan Bouabdellah about the Bowien student Bettina Heinen-Ayech with the title
"Bettina Heinen-Ayech: Letter to Erwin Bowien".There is a French version entitled "Bettina Heinen-Ayech: Lettre à Erwin Bowien".The film was
broadcast on several television channels in Europe and Algeria, presentations in museums and cinematheques, official selection at the Montreal Cultural Film Festival
1992
Paintings by Erwin Bowien are presented as part of the exhibition "Schirm, Objekte aus Handwerk, Mode und Kunst" at the Klingenmuseum Solingen. The exhibition was hosted by the
Landschaftsverband Rheinland.
1991
Solingen, Stadtsparkasse Solingen (10.09. bis 04.10.), Topic: Portraits and portraits of Solingen
citizens, opening speech by Bettina Heinen-Ayech, a catalog was published: text by Diana Millies
1990
The art
collection of the Bergisches Geschichtsverein is enriched by a portrait of Professor Julius Bernhardt by Erwin Bowien in 1925
1988
Weil am Rhein: Sparkasse Markgräfler Land (23.08. bis 16.09) under the theme “Dreiländereck”,
opening speech Bettina Heinen-Ayech
Remscheid, Theatergalerie (11.09. bis 23.10.), Introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch
1986
Solingen, Stadtsparkasse Solingen (16.09. bis 16.10.), Author: Holland 1932-1942.Introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch.Bowien's works, which are owned by the Dutch royal family, were made available to the public for the first time.An exhibition catalog was published, text by Hans Karl Pesch.
Weil am Rhein, Sparkasse Markgräfler Land (10.11. bis 02.12.), Topic: Holland 1932-1942, opening speech by
Alfred Dietz
Publication of a comprehensive article by Alfred Dietz, with numerous illustrations in volume 2 of
the almanac “Das Markgräfler Land”, born in 1986
1985
Invitation card to the Bowien exhibition at the Goethe Institute in Algiers
Algier, Goethe-Institut (19. bis 30.11.), under the patronage of the German Ambassador Dr.Heinz Dröge, introductory speech by Prof. Ali Ali-Khodja.Ms. Marianne Kopatz sang poems by Hanns Heinen, composed by Dr.Peter Költringer.
1984
Invitation card to the Bowien exhibition at the Städtische Galerie Stapflehus in Weil am Rhein, Germany
Weil am Rhein, Municipal gallery Stapflehus (15.03. bis 08.04.)
Donation of Bowien
Pictures from the Swiss Eggenberger Collection to the art collection in the German Blade Museum Solingen, today in the Art Museum Solingen
Solingen, Deutsches Klingenmuseum (19.08. bis 07.10), Topic: Representation of the Rhine from
its sources to its mouths, opening speech by Hans Karl Pesch
Invitation card Klingenmuseum Solingen, 1984
1983
In the lecture series "Significant Solingen" of the local association of Solingen in the "Bergisches
Geschichtsverein", the art historian Hans Karl Pesch gave a public slide lecture on March 15, 1983 in the city of Sparkasse in Solingen with the title "Erwin Bowien - man and
painter".
1982
Solingen, Exhibition entitled "Bergisches Land" in theDeutsches Klingenmuseum (September 11th to 26th)
Public lecture from selected writings by Erwin Bowien by Dr. Dieter Freiling and public slide show
on Erwin Bowien's drawn letters by Hans-Karl Pesch / Haan in the German Blade Museum in Solingen on 11.09.1982
1981
Monograph on Erwin Bowien
Solingen, Publication of a monograph on Erwin Bowien, written by art critic and vice-president of
the Erwin Bowien e.V., Hans Karl Pesch, with contributions in English and French as well as 13 color and 33 black and white illustrations of pictures and drawings
1980
Remscheid, Municipal Museum of Local History Remscheid-Hasten (July 6th to August 24th), opening
speech by Hans Karl Pesch
1979
Weil am Rhein,Municipal Museum of Local History (03.09.), Commemoration for the 80th birthday of
Erwin Bowien
Donation to the art collection of the city of Weil am Rhein by the Freundeskreis Erwin
Bowien e.V. of a sketchbook with motifs from a Norwegian trip by the artist
1978
Buchschlag Dreieich, Bürgersaal (06. bis 17.09.), organized by the Buchschlag Cultural Association,
opened by Mayor Meudt and President Bettina Heinen-Ayech
Solingen, Hotel Stadt Solingen (August 31 to October 1).New compositions by
Werner Krahnert based on poems by Hanns Heinen were premiered.
Establishment of a permanent "Bowien Stube" in the museum on Lindenplatz in Weil am Rhein.
The inauguration took place during a festive ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Weil am Rhein - Mr Boll - and Mr Fallet-von Castelberg, a great collector of Erwin Bowien andHead of the Swiss Federal
Railways.
Donation to the art collection of the city of Weil am Rhein of a self-portrait by Erwin
Bowien by Ms. Bettina Heinen-Ayech
1977
Invitation card 1977 for the Erwin Bowien memorial exhibition in Bern
Bern, Galerie d´Art Münster (25.01. bis 15.02.). Opening by Dr.E. M.
Fallet
The Swiss magazine "Leben und Glaube" was published on September 17, 1977 with a colored cover, a
flower picture (1962) by Erwin Bowien
Weil am Rhein, Local history museum of the city of Weil am Rhein, inauguration of the Bowienstube
(October 22), introductory words by Dr.E. M. Fallet
Haus der Volksbildung / Weil am Rhein, (22. und 23.11.), Exhibition from Weiler privately
owned
Algier, Art association, gallery Mohamed Racim (15.11.bis 26.11)
1976
Gladbeck (Stadt Bottrop), Wasserschloß Wittringen (14.03. bis 25.04), Introductory speech by Hans
Karl Pesch
Solingen (Klingenmuseum), the Freundeskreis Erwin Bowien e.V. was founded on October 2, 1976, first
president: Dr.Eduard M. Fallet, second president: Bettina Heinen-Ayech
1975
Weil am Rhein, Haus der Volksbildung (03.bis011.05.). Opening by Dr.
E. M. Fallet, Bern
On May 27, 1975 Dr.Dieter Freiling gave a lecture in the Solingen Rotary Club
on the subject "The fullness of life - seen by the artists Erwin Bowien, Hanns Heinen and Bettina Heinen-Ayech", plus presentation of Bowien's pictures by Bettina Heinen-Ayech.
Solingen, Deutsches Klingenmuseum (15.05. bis 13.07.), together with pictures of his teacher Robert Engels, introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch.Songs by Werner
Krahnert based on lyrical poems by Hanns Heinen were premiered.
1974
Weil am Rhein, exhibition in the Bowiens residence (January 2nd to 14th and December 1st to 15th),
introductory speech by Hans Karl Pesch.
Rabat / Morocco, exhibition at the Goethe Institute (December 4th to 14th), opening by the German
ambassador Dr.Hendus.
Invitation card at the Goethe Institute in Rabat, 1974
1973
Springe / Deister, exhibition in the district home museum (25.08.0 bis 30.09), introductory speech
by Hans Karl Pesch