BEATE MINDERJAHN
My background
Born in Germany, I immigrated to New Zealand with my husband Bernie and my son Henry in 1999. Now I live and work in Red Beach on the beautiful Hibiscus Coast, North of Auckland.
After graduating in Business Management in Germany and studying Interior Decoration in New Zealand, I wanted to combine both sides of my brain in my daily work.
How I started painting
After visiting New Zealand for the first time in 1990 I felt the strong urge to follow my life-long passions for art and design. I created my first painting, inspired by Maori legends and the New Zealand landscape. Since then I have painted many works in different media - symbolic, abstract, textured - I made collages, digital Photo art, Art cards, drawings and objects.
What I do
For several years I shared a large art studio in Dairy Flat, I collaborated with other artists, and I showed my work in solo and group exhibitions in Germany, New Zealand, Italy, and US.
I am best known for my large abstract paintings, heavily textured mixed media works (Colour meets Texture) and a series of round paintings called ‘Peace Circles’. From 2007 to 2009 I created a body of work called ‘Dancing in a Garden of Biomorphic Cells’ in remembrance of my mother, who passed away of cancer.
Over the years I have also worked on many other creative projects involving costume making, stage design, kids fashion, art classes, floral arrangements, event decoration and Interior design. I always loved to write, too. Beside different blogs I wrote short stories and poems, and I like to combine writing with my art.
I love commission work, colour consulting and helping clients to find the right art for their Interiors.
Out of the Blue
In May 2016, totally out of the blue after a routine blood test my super fit husband Bernie got diagnosed with Leukaemia. The same day he was admitted to Auckland Hospital, and two days later he started his first Chemo. He insisted that his glass was half full. In the following week we learned, that his treatment will minimum take a year. We were absolutely not prepared, we had no plan B and nothing was organised for such a sudden total change of life. I found myself dealing with shock, fear, finances, and I had no choice other than closing our family business and stop my creative work, too. I went to the hospital every single day. With the help of my seventeen year old son Henry I tried to keep up with everything else, one day at a time. After five Chemos and a successful stem cell transplant, Bernie came home after Christmas and the outlook for 2017 was really good. He had made it through every treatment and every infection. Bernie took it all with a smile and he never gave up. The 100 critical days after transplant went by without any problems. In April he even went back on the soccer field. Unfortunately the happiness was short lived, as four weeks later we learned that his cancer had come back and he closed his eyes forever in August 2017. My husband supported me for 29 years in every artistic endeavour. He called our life ‘a great adventure with no regrets’ and during his fight with cancer I saw his true soul shining through. He will always be my hero.
On a new path
After Bernie passed away I needed some time out for grieving, soul searching and re-organising my life. I went on a spiritual path of Mindfulness, Meditation and Yoga and it still helps me through my days. But my creative passions have never left me. That’s why I decided to still follow my dream and I finally started painting and drawing again.
To get back on track I also launched a Yoga and Meditation cushion business, which again fills my need to be creative and nurtures my love for fabrics and interiors. www.allsenses.co.nz
My Art Philosophy
“I am an artist and designer who is obsessed with forms, lines, shapes, and colours - and with freedom. I think, that's why I finally became an artist. The freedom to express myself in a visual language, universal and only limited to my own imagination, is a priceless gift. Each of my art pieces is a new challenge and reveals a fragment of life. It is the constant alternating process of concealing and uncovering, creating with my hands, exploring colours, textures and language. Through different media my art invites the viewer to contemplate further on a soul-searching moment – to experience a visual meditation. Beauty has always plaid an influential role in my abstract painting style which continues to evolve into an ongoing artistic journey of discovery. “
Thank you for visiting my website and your interest in my art.
Have a wonderful day.
Beate Minderjahn
My background
Born in Germany, I immigrated to New Zealand with my husband Bernie and my son Henry in 1999. Now I live and work in Red Beach on the beautiful Hibiscus Coast, North of Auckland.
After graduating in Business Management in Germany and studying Interior Decoration in New Zealand, I wanted to combine both sides of my brain in my daily work.
How I started painting
After visiting New Zealand for the first time in 1990 I felt the strong urge to follow my life-long passions for art and design. I created my first painting, inspired by Maori legends and the New Zealand landscape. Since then I have painted many works in different media - symbolic, abstract, textured - I made collages, digital Photo art, Art cards, drawings and objects.
What I do
For several years I shared a large art studio in Dairy Flat, I collaborated with other artists, and I showed my work in solo and group exhibitions in Germany, New Zealand, Italy, and US.
I am best known for my large abstract paintings, heavily textured mixed media works (Colour meets Texture) and a series of round paintings called ‘Peace Circles’. From 2007 to 2009 I created a body of work called ‘Dancing in a Garden of Biomorphic Cells’ in remembrance of my mother, who passed away of cancer.
Over the years I have also worked on many other creative projects involving costume making, stage design, kids fashion, art classes, floral arrangements, event decoration and Interior design. I always loved to write, too. Beside different blogs I wrote short stories and poems, and I like to combine writing with my art.
I love commission work, colour consulting and helping clients to find the right art for their Interiors.
Out of the Blue
In May 2016, totally out of the blue after a routine blood test my super fit husband Bernie got diagnosed with Leukaemia. The same day he was admitted to Auckland Hospital, and two days later he started his first Chemo. He insisted that his glass was half full. In the following week we learned, that his treatment will minimum take a year. We were absolutely not prepared, we had no plan B and nothing was organised for such a sudden total change of life. I found myself dealing with shock, fear, finances, and I had no choice other than closing our family business and stop my creative work, too. I went to the hospital every single day. With the help of my seventeen year old son Henry I tried to keep up with everything else, one day at a time. After five Chemos and a successful stem cell transplant, Bernie came home after Christmas and the outlook for 2017 was really good. He had made it through every treatment and every infection. Bernie took it all with a smile and he never gave up. The 100 critical days after transplant went by without any problems. In April he even went back on the soccer field. Unfortunately the happiness was short lived, as four weeks later we learned that his cancer had come back and he closed his eyes forever in August 2017. My husband supported me for 29 years in every artistic endeavour. He called our life ‘a great adventure with no regrets’ and during his fight with cancer I saw his true soul shining through. He will always be my hero.
On a new path
After Bernie passed away I needed some time out for grieving, soul searching and re-organising my life. I went on a spiritual path of Mindfulness, Meditation and Yoga and it still helps me through my days. But my creative passions have never left me. That’s why I decided to still follow my dream and I finally started painting and drawing again.
To get back on track I also launched a Yoga and Meditation cushion business, which again fills my need to be creative and nurtures my love for fabrics and interiors. www.allsenses.co.nz
My Art Philosophy
“I am an artist and designer who is obsessed with forms, lines, shapes, and colours - and with freedom. I think, that's why I finally became an artist. The freedom to express myself in a visual language, universal and only limited to my own imagination, is a priceless gift. Each of my art pieces is a new challenge and reveals a fragment of life. It is the constant alternating process of concealing and uncovering, creating with my hands, exploring colours, textures and language. Through different media my art invites the viewer to contemplate further on a soul-searching moment – to experience a visual meditation. Beauty has always plaid an influential role in my abstract painting style which continues to evolve into an ongoing artistic journey of discovery. “
Thank you for visiting my website and your interest in my art.
Have a wonderful day.
Beate Minderjahn
