The international project “Here and Now - Art Brut” is an enrichment for the Aachen region with regard to the integrative demand and recognition of artists with handicaps. It addresses the different working methods of these artists with a focus on the connection between cultural imprint and the individual artistic expression of each of them. The exhibition shows how artists with mental or psychological disabilities perceive things and visualize this in their work. Funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the regional cultural policy of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Willsosein art workshop of the Lebenshilfe Aachen, Workshops & Services GmbH organizes the main event of the project. Project partners are here: Ut Glaashose (Maastricht, The Netherlands), Tevona (Hasselt, Belgium), Lebenshilfe Heinsberg (Heinsberg, Germany) and Riera Studio (Havana, Cuba). The cooperation between the various partner studios and workshops is a representative example of international cooperation that with our partner in Cuba extends far beyond our beautiful Euregio (cross-border region between The Netherlands and Germany and the first Euroregion, founded in 1958) because from June to August many works of art by the Art Brut artists found a place inside the art gallery Riera Studio in Havana, Cuba. As the head of the cultural department of the city of Aachen, I am pleased that such a project is contributing to the cultural enrichment of the city.

Susanne Schwier

Patron and Head of Culture of the City of Aachen

Inclusion of people with disabilities is for us at Lebenshilfe Aachen, Workshops & Services GmbH very important. Therefore, I am particularly happy that the space for the cooperation project “Here and Now - Art Brut” has been found under our roof. We have been promoting handicapped artists since 2008 and thus enabling these people to work as artists. It is also exciting for us to see how the international project partners work in this area and how everyone supports and promotes artists with disabilities in their own way as he or she needs. This cooperation creates a place for the Art Brut art form, its artists and their work, but especially with the workweek, this project also creates a place where people can actively exchange ideas about their working methods. Because the exciting thing about this art form is the individual way of working, the mostly unplanned, naive and spontaneous design of surface and object, which captivates the viewer with its abundance of details. Whether graphic works, pictures with personal stories, color explosions, objects or collages - every artist follows his own style and creates a unique work. In order to focus on these special people and their art, we have decided in this catalog to introduce you to the artists and their work.

Norbert Zimmermann

Managing Director of Lebenshilfe Aachen, Workshops & Services GmbH