Claus Caninenberg Sold at Auction Prices

Claus Caninenberg lives in the small town of Hellental - located in a clear, open meadow valley in the middle of one of the largest forest areas in Germany.

Photo by Claus Caninenberg With his wife Gisela he lives in a 200 year old half-timbered house, his 3 children live with their families in the immediate vicinity. The house - a living and a workshop at the same time - should give way to a new road layout 30 years ago. Thanks to the artist's initiative, it survived the impending demolition, was mined by hand with the help of the villagers and carefully rebuilt at the present location. In this way past and present are equally noticeable here.

The large garden with orchard and cottage garden, located in the vast landscape, offers space for happy summer parties, but also invites you to pause and meditate. On a small hill in the midst of this ambience are three tall, bizarre palm-like copper sculptures that represent "freilechons" (plants of the highands). Claus Caninenberg's motto, the Arabian wisdom: "Let's be wide about me" can be understood here.

The experiences of many, partly career-related and often enough with danger associated stays abroad in South America, Africa, Middle East (u.a.m.) and a life in an apparently peaceful environment characterize his life and work.