Undine Bandelin

On the paintings of Undine Bandelin
 
Is it grand drama or everyday banality? Often, only a brushstroke separates the two. Whether it's the allotment gardener in his refuge, the bride and groom smiling broadly surrounded by their loved ones, or the coffee party in the parlor: they share the blind spots that lie dormant deep within them, the trials and tribulations of the self are kept in check, and the skeletons are buried deep in the basement. The façade seems perfect.
 
The images show places of norms and normality. Here, human characteristics come to light when one thinks one is unobserved. Trivialities take on meaning, emerge from the darkness, and confront us with the transformation of the seemingly safe place into an event of disharmony, loss of control, and the eruption of human characteristics kept under wraps. As if through a magnifying glass, our gaze is directed toward human obsessions, fears, and entanglements.
 
The pictorial space becomes a stage. A wide variety of characters appear. The protagonists negotiate their roles and their place in the group. Are they leaders, outsiders, instigators, seducers, rulers, rebels, or unwanted followers? They are constantly confronted with their conflicts and contradictions. An eternal search between fear, compulsion, failure, and success.

These absurdities of human existence are repeatedly revealed in the images. They are shown in various grotesque facets—always with a self-deprecating wink. They can be applied as a template to one's own reality. At best, this should create a sense of irritation that provides food for thought.