Content Section

AIDAprima – Feliks Büttner composes painting for Deck 7

The lines of the smiling lips,moons and eyes are drawn; vivid yellow, red, blue and green blocks of colorhave already been applied. The large-scale painting that the Rostock artistFeliks Büttner has exclusively created for the new flagship AIDAprima nowstands in the exhibition room of the AIDA partner gallery, AURIGA. The 2.30 x2.70-meter painting, which will be hung on Deck 7, will form a “narrative wall”as the 74-year-old creator of the famous AIDA lips describes his new work ofart.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Alongside the traditional AIDAsymbol on the hull of the ship, Feliks Büttner is also involved in the artisticinterior design of the new AIDAprima. Just as, over almost two decades, theRostock painter and graphic artist has accompanied the brand-shaping artisticdesign of all the AIDA ships.

Feliks Büttner says that themajor theme of the new painting is the world of AIDA. All of the motifs relateto adventure-filled vacation on board, and the guests – enjoying themselves,recharging their batteries, traveling and making discoveries. The 2015 work isdominated by the familiar AIDA elements of moon, smiling lips and eyes. Theartist says that he has “cut out” the most successful motifs from the manyworks he has created for AIDA to date, and used them to “compose a new picture”– in the same way that AIDAprima’s new vacation concept as a year-rounddestination brings together AIDA’s lengthy experience and successful concepts.

Feliks Büttner is laid-back aboutthe spatial separation from the new ship which is currently being built inNagasaki, Japan. During his many years of working with AIDA Cruises, he haslearned to “think in ship categories”. Since the new large-scale painting willin future hang on a slightly curving wall, the canvas is in three sections.This will also make it easier to transport the painting to the shipyard inJapan. However, before it takes its place on Deck 7, it will first be on showat the Rostock Kunsthalle on May 17, 2015. That day will see the opening of aretrospective of his work with the title of “Viermal 75” – to mark his 75thbirthday. Considerable space at the show will be devoted to his long-standingcollaboration with AIDA Cruises.

In the last few weeks, FeliksBüttner has worked for three to four hours every day at the AURIGA Gallery onhis new painting for AIDAprima, so that it’s ready “at the right time”. Nowit’s the large-scale details of the work that captivate. As Feliks Büttnerexplains, the individual visual elements on a “narrative wall” should not betoo small. The first guests will be able to savor Feliks Büttner’s new work onDeck 7 from October 1, 2015 when the AIDAprima begins its maiden voyage fromYokohama in Japan. The painting will lead the guests directly to the AIDA artgallery which is immediately adjacent, where more works by this hard-workingartist are on show and can be purchased.

Kaleidoscope powered