"Giving color to feelings" - Exhibition opening with paintings by Cato-Irmela Diez

It's actually quite remarkable how the exhibition came about, says the former managing director of the family business Teppich- und Tapetenhaus Diez in Wiesbaden with a smile. In 2023, she took part in a biography workshop lasting several months, led by Robert Rempel and Juliane Appel, which EVIM coordinator Cornelia Baumbach had offered to interested residents of ServiceWohnen. The task was to talk about one's own life for four minutes in a digital recording. "At first, that was unimaginable for me," she says. But then she began to enjoy it. She approached the task creatively, showing a selection of her pictures and reading poems that mean a lot to her. When Torsten Anstädt, with whom she is also connected through the digital cultural event "Gute Stunde" (Good Hour), saw the video, he was very enthusiastic. His idea to exhibit her pictures in the town hall is now becoming a reality. "I owe him a lot," says Cato-Irmela Diez happily. 

Expressive painting on the big themes of life

Nineteen of her works will now be on display in the foyer. She meticulously planned the selection, the hanging, and the program for the vernissage. Her paintings fascinate with their magical expressiveness, a play of color and form that glows from within and exudes energy. Eyes, circles, hearts, and mask-like faces are recurring motifs. Metallic shades of gold and silver symbolize divine energy, the universe, and spirituality, as she describes. "Yes, I paint my life, my feelings," says the self-taught artist, who perfected her craft in workshops and became known regionally and nationally through numerous exhibitions. In her painting, she fearlessly confronts the big themes of life: dealing with illness and death, experiences of love and eroticism, and supreme happiness. That is why her paintings are all autobiographical works, each with its own story and connected to everything that deeply touched, shook, and delighted her – "the whole range of emotions can be found in my paintings," says Cato-Irmela Diez. 

Art and literature as sources of strength

Her life was marked by many challenges, both personal and professional. With her characteristic energy and resilience, she faced everything, including years of caring for her parents, who were suffering from dementia, and becoming seriously ill herself. She is also grateful for many journeys, memorable encounters, and loving family connections.

The artist, who comes from an artistic family, has drawn strength and inspiration from her engagement with art and literature throughout her life. She invented a unique artistic and poetic expression in the motif of the "tree of life," based on the famous poem by Hermann Hesse, which means a lot to her. 

Values such as peace and freedom are also important to Irmela Diez, who was born in 1944. That is why, in 1999, she adopted the stage name "Cato" out of deep conviction, in reference to Cato Bontjes van Beek, who died at the age of 22 under the guillotine in Berlin-Plötzensee for her non-violent resistance against the Nazis. "She had a strong faith, was courageous and upright in her humanity – until the very end." She thus embodied all the qualities that are so important to the artist herself. 

The vernissage on February 23 begins at 5 p.m. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Ako Karim. The laudatory speech will be given by Peter Kiel, EVIM Director of ServiceWohnen and Quartiersmanagement. (hk)