Crossing Continents: at The Henderson Gallery

The Henderson Gallery proudly presents 'Crossing Continents:A Genetic Predisposition',

An exhibition of work by the de Koenigswarter family, from 24th October - 21st November 2009.

Dynasties are unusual in the world of the arts, but war heroes Jules and Nica de Koenigswarter would appear to have founded one. While Nica’s painting and Jules’ industrial design may have taken a back seat to their roles as jazz patroness and French diplomat respectively, subsequent generations of the family have all devoted very substantial portions of their lives to painting, printmaking and photography.

The de Koenigswarters have never exhibited together before, perhaps because they live in such disparate parts of the world: Janka in Jerusalem, Steven in Amsterdam, Berit in New York, Kari in Edinburgh, Francoise in Paris, with Nadine dividing her time between France and Africa.

Family friend, the Israeli artist Avigdor Arikha once said that ‘The urge to paint comes from a genetic defect that impels the afflicted to paint; which at the last analysis others identify as talent’.

This show offers a unique opportunity to examine this observation in the light of the creativity of three generations of the same family.