© Bernd Ahrens photography
There is an exhibition of the sketches and paintings of the veteran German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl upstairs at the NRW-Forum until 27th September. ARM is one of the few German actors who has made it big in Hollywood, last seen as Cardinal Strauss in Angels and Demons. An accomplished violinist, painter and drawer, AMS spent the breaks whilst filming his most recent work, an opulent costume drama from the 1920's of the Thomas Mann book The Budenbrooks, sketching over the screenplay. When the state of North Rhine Westfalia wished to give AMS an award one minister came up with the idea of giving this modest gentleman an exhibition at the NRW-Forum. AMS was moved to tears.
AMS's grand mother, mother and aunt were all artists. When naughty as a young boy, one of these 'house angels' would say "sit down" and they would sketch him with his sour face, capturing his screwed up eyes and nose and the very moment of rage or sadness. It was with such depth that the young AMS learnt to take in the world around him; no doubt this quiet observation has contributed much towards his enormous talent. He is a much-admired, and indeed, a much-loved actor.
If you visit the NRW-Forum on a Friday after 6pm, admission to both Catwalks and AMS will cost just €5.00. An absolute bargain!
