WALTER AND THE TRIPTYCH

In 1987 I got to know Walter. He was a big, exuberant German, who worked at the architecture studio Gregotti Associati.

When I was in Milan, I would visit that studio. It was a place that sparkled with creativity. Some forty young and ambitious architects worked there.

I had known the place thanks to Mauro, an architect with whom I have collaborated (the church in Modena) and who owns many works of mine.

Before entering the studio, I always had to take a deep breath. People would jump at me, asking for my newest stuff. Walter too showed a lot of interest. We got along fine.

After some time he left the studio to open one of his own with Manolo. I held one of my crazy shows there.

At the opening the place was packed, people stood out in the street trying to get in. They fought over my work.

Even after having returned to Germany, he continued to buy paintings. Then the contact diluted. He moved from Cologne to Berlin, got married, had three children, divorced and became an important architect. 

Every year he’d send me a new year’s wish and I’d send back a card of the Sagrada Familia, knowing he was not too fond of Gaudì.

A couple of years ago we picked things up again through the then new media Facebook.

We regularly would promise to meet. From my point of view a not very realistic remark, thanks to my financial situation and my recently exploded marriage.

Walter bought a couple of paintings more, we toasted to each other on the screen and in 2012 he asked me to paint his portrait.

For that portrait I visited him in Berlin. He took care of me falling madly in love with the city. It was a weekend like in the old days. He was more than generous. Good old Walter… I promised to visit more often and saw ways of working me in the art buyers market there.

I met one of his sons, with whom I am still in contact.

I returned home and sent the portrait in May 2012. It had many good reviews. Walter was happy.

In July of the same year he died… On vacation in Italy he felt unwell and two weeks later it was over.

During my stay in Berlin he had complained about a cold that lasted too long. He wanted something to be done about it. It turned out to be the advertisement of a brain tumour.

Away my chance to enter the market in Berlin. But what is a lot worse, away Walter, a colourful and precious person. Nobody to call me ‘sugar cube’ anymore. No more Walter racing around Cologne in a red Saab. No more drunken songs sung together.

Often I have wandered. He had three children and asked me to portray him in threes in February 2012.

I feel honoured.

Barcelona, July 2016.

For the portrait, click on: Walter.