Marc Rieu Doing It His Own Way ...

Marc Rieu Doing It His Own Way

De Limburger: December 16, 2011 by Peter van de Berg

His paintings are already hanging in the office of British actor Anthony Hopkins. While his famous father André visits all the corners of the world with the Johann Strauss Orchestra, Marc hopes to achieve the same fame, but as a renowned painter/artist. "I‘ll do it my way"

MARC RIEU'S OWN WAY 

He is, with his brushes and paint, perhaps the most creative spirit of the Rieu family. Marc, son of the famous Maastricht conductor and leader of the Johann Strauss Orchestra, inherited just like father André, mother Marjorie and brother Pierre, the feeling for art, music and culture. It is in the genes. While André and Pierre are in the spotlights, Marc is satisfied with a role in the background. But he will not stay there. Like his father he has a dream. Marc wants to build a name as a painter to eventually end up with his works in galleries and museums across the world.

His interest in painting was really awakened when he in group eight, watched a documentary about Vincent van Gogh in elementary school. "When I started painting, Vincent definitely was a big source of inspiration. I still admire him. That man had an enormous drive. He created over 800 paintings. Try doing that!"  

Marc Rieu has in recent years evolved into a landscape painter. He calls his style: suggestive illusionism. On his website (www.marcrieu.com) he writes: "I suggest reality with my paintbrush as a magic wand. His preference for landscapes is deliberate choice. 

I become sad due to all the misery in the world. People fight and make war. And that while our planet has so much beauty to offer. The landscape is innocent and often beautiful. Look at the Grand Canyon in the USA or Tuscany in Italy. Sometimes I get the idea that the earth protests and fights back. Maybe a tsunami is a kind of a warning of "Don't go too far"." He is a romantic. A realistic artist? Does not exist!! Each artist lives in his own world. Considering that, I too am a dreamer. 

During the last three years he has been earning a living as a professional painter. His studio is in his home. "That gives me freedom to decide when I go to work. Sitting behind the easel is not the only thing I do." He is also the daddy who changes his children's diapers, goes to the petting zoo, or sings a little song for the little ones. In the last six years he has created about 100 paintings. Panoramas, sunsets, or ships at sea. He cannot get enough of it. 

"It's not as if I copy photos precisely on canvas for instance. I give my own twist to each painting. Recently, I painted the Hamburg skyline. Not every building is straight. That's what they call suggestive illusionism". Just like his brother Pierre, Marc too could have worked in his father's company. But he prefers a different career. "Dad is my big role model, and I admire him tremendously. I regularly attend his concerts. But I do not aspire a position with him. I like to build my own career and name. I conduct regular exhibitions. I then have a conversation with the people who organize the event and then very frequently the last question is: "Can André come and open the exhibition?" Then I sometimes think: "Is it all about him or my paintings? That's very particular.  

His paintings do not only hang in Castle "De Torentjes", (André and Marjorie Rieu's castle), but in the meantime also by Anthony Hopkins. The famous British actor attended this year’s Vrijthof concerts, after having composed a waltz for André. During that same time Marc Rieu was conducting an exhibition in the Theater on the Vrijthof. "I saw him sitting in the audience and I wanted to shake his hand, but was pushed aside by one of his body guards. Later on the body guard learned that I was André's son. He felt very bad and ashamed. The next day we had breakfast together. Anthony Hopkins’ wife bought four of my paintings, and they are hanging in his office. Of course I am very proud of that." For the second time his works were exhibited in the Theater on the Vrijthof.  

In 2010, during the concerts, eleven paintings were sold. This year twenty four. He sold a painting to a couple from Singapore. That was very funny. These people were on holiday in Maastricht. Not because of the concert. They did not even know André, but were interested in art. They bought a painting of a mill against a deep blue sky as background." Marc plans his itinerary carefully. In March an exhibition can be seen in the BRF broadcasting building in Eupen, Belgium. He is looking for an art gallery which can permanently represent him and ultimately presents his exhibitions in many different places. "Dad also started small with the Salon Orchestra. I have all the time. Of course I would like to end up in renowned museums. Every artist dreams of that ...

Thanks to John for this article and Ineke/John’s translation. (Printed with permission)