Art. So What. Who Cares? I do!
By Graham Lewinton
Facing uncomfortable truths with honesty and compassion
When Graham Lewinton exhibited at Brunshausen in 2016, the world was full of uncertainty especially with Brexit on the cards. His exhibition Art. So what. Who cares? I do! became the most visited (and talked about!!) show of the year at Klosterhof Brunshausen, and it is easy to see why.
Graham’s work makes you stop, look and think. It challenges us to care about the world we live in and to face uncomfortable truths with honesty and compassion. His art confronts, but it does so with deep humanity, care and passion. Every piece is a reminder that we all have a part to play in making the world better.
Graham really does care, and that shows in every line, every mark and every message. He opens our eyes to what is going on around us and invites us to look closer, to feel more and to act with conscience. On his own he is unlikely to change the world overnight, but through his creativity he will bloody well try his hardest.
At Brunshausen, a place marked by its chequered history, particularly its dark chapter during the Second World War and the persecution of the Jews, Graham’s art takes on an even deeper meaning. His work fits the setting in a way that compels us to think about who we are, how we treat one another and what kind of world we want to build.
The world is a better place because of artists like Graham. He does not turn away from what is difficult or broken. He looks it straight in the eye and transforms it into something honest, thought-provoking and human. His art sparks conversation, empathy and awareness. It connects us and reminds us of our shared responsibility to care. That is the true power of art.
Graham Lewinton. Artist.
Brunshausen – Where History Lives On
Just outside Bad Gandersheim in Germany stands Brunshausen, a place with more than a thousand years of history. Founded in the 9th century by the Liudolfing family, it was the first home of the Gandersheim convent before the community moved to its new site in 881. Over the centuries it has changed roles many times, from monastery to baroque summer residence and later to a centre of culture.
During the Second World War, part of the monastery was used as a satellite camp of Buchenwald concentration camp. Prisoners were forced to work for the Heinkel aircraft factory, and in 1945, as the war drew to a close, forty prisoners too weak to march were executed nearby. A memorial on site today keeps their memory alive.
Since 1987, Brunshausen has belonged to the town of Bad Gandersheim and now serves as a museum and exhibition venue, part of the Portal zur Geschichte (“Gateway to History”) project. Visitors can explore its remarkable story, enjoy changing exhibitions and relax in the welcoming Rosencafé, all within the peaceful surroundings of this historic monastery.
