Touched by Art: Ralf Ullrich & Renata Tumarova
In May, new artist-artist pairs will be at work at the Palast Hotel. One such duo is Ralf Ullrich and Renata Tumarova. Ralf Ullrich, a serious, focused-looking man, has two cell phones strapped to his arm. He attends the EVIM Mal_anders studio in the Eigenheim neighborhood of Wiesbaden, which is led by Artjom Cherpovetskyy. The Frankfurt-based artist comes to Wiesbaden regularly to paint with a group of artists with intellectual disabilities.
"He always does his own thing here," says Ralf Ullrich. Jenny Martin, who is part of the current project, is also usually active at Mal_anders. Ralf Ullrich’s paintings are abstract and colorful, featuring many shades of blue. He loves the color. His partner, Renata Tumarova, is a good match for him. Her paintings also contain a lot of blue. She paints with short, impasto strokes; one of her paintings looks like the reflection of figures on the surface of water. Water and people bathing are often her subjects, radiating joy. She paints in oil with Ralf Ullrich, which means the paintings always have to dry for a long time between each painting phase. This is new for Ullrich, who usually paints in acrylic. Artists with disabilities often learn about new materials from the professionals, which everyone greatly appreciates. A large painting, the collaborative work, lies on the floor, still glistening with moisture. On the walls: many preliminary studies, small-format sketches. The two artists’ color palettes and brushstrokes complement each other well, and they also get along, says Renata Tumarova. She was born in Russia, has lived in Berlin for a long time, and has exhibited throughout Germany, including in Wiesbaden, where she—like all the professionals involved here—came across the project through gallery owner Christiane Rother. She thinks that many beautiful things will still emerge here, says Renata Tumarova, and her partner, a rather quiet person, nods. (Anja Baumgart-Pietsch; Photos: evim/rui camilo)