Author: Lisa McLean
Back in 1997, I attended one of my first art exhibitions here in Luxembourg,organised by Dani Prum and Jerry Frantz and was delighted to discover one of my artist friends, Robert Hall was exhibiting. In an irreverent move he had entered a small brass plaque on which were inscribed the words ““Mir hunn e Robert Brandy iwwert eise Canapé hänken." Translated…”We have a Robert Brandy hanging over our sofa”. This tongue-in-cheek reference was relevant to Luxembourg’s art scene at the time, or at least the struggle for patronage that many young artists experienced. The man in question took no offence, and bought one of the three limited edition plaques. That was also my introduction to one of Luxembourg’s best known artists, Robert Brandy…the name has been heard many time since. Thankfully, the art scene, much like our local music scene, has also expanded dramatically too; much of that has been accredited to the doggedness of the pursuit of a career in art by the said Mr Brandy.
Indeed, the influence of Robert Brandy is not to be ignored and with its upcoming exhibition Robert Brandy face à lui-même, the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA) presents half a century of work by this popular and well-known Luxembourg artist. In his early career, Brandy quickly made a name for himself in the art world, not least because he was determined to achieve something almost unheard of in 1970s Luxembourg: to make his passion his profession and make a living from his art in his own country. Establishing himself as an independent freelance artist turned him into something of a renowned figure and, without Brandy even knowing it, was to pave the way for other artists to follow in his footsteps
His fierce desire for independence stems from his time in the south of France where, while studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence, he first encountered the teachings of the Supports/Surfaces movement. Influenced by these artists ’ideas, he developed a keen awareness of the materials used in his works and started playing with objects, canvas and colours–in essence the supports and surfaces of his own work. He nurtured his own original style of expression, honing it religiously in many different ways. So that his work can be seen on a number of external walls around Luxembourg. Gradually his name became known and his works featured in high-profile museum exhibitions and private collections.
The purpose of this MNHA exhibition is two-fold: Firstly, it showcases Robert Brandy’s long career (1971-2021) through a selection of works–some of them previously unseen–which demonstrates how his artistic expression has developed over time. Visitors can explore how his career has progressed and how his artistic language has evolved from his early career to the present day. Secondly, the exhibition highlights Robert Brandy’s role in the history of art in Luxembourg, as a pioneer in promoting art as a freelance profession at a pivotal moment in the development of the country’s arts sector. A programme of educational events is planned alongside the exhibition, including workshops, themed tours and a lecture series.
