Women's Portraits

Diemut Bach

Childhood and family

D. is born in Berlin on 6 September 1939. She is the eldest of five sisters and brothers. At the age of five, D and her family had to leave Berlin. They moved to Berchtesgaden in Bavaria where D. spent her childhood. In 1945 she entered primary school, changed to Gymnasium and left being a graduate of a secondary school. At the University of Erlangen, she started studying biology, geography and chemistry. Her parents‘ monthly support was one hundred Marks which meant earning her own money in holiday jobs. She terminated studies in München-Pasing with the diploma for teaching in middle school. From 1965 until her retirement in 2004, she taught at Realschulen. She married and gave birth to her son Ruben. After divorcing, she felt  somehow free. She got her driver’s license, joined in a rowing-club and was able to attend cultural events. As a teacher, she was financially independent.

Activities after being retired

After receiving a pension, she devoted herself to painting. Sometime during her teaching career, she had been asked if she would like to teach art. There had been a lack of subject teachers and D.happily agreed, knowing she had the talent for painting. She took part in several training courses and workshops.

So when she retired from teaching there was no doubt about starting a life as an artist. For her paintings she uses acrylic colours because these are less stinking, she says. She also uses different materials such as sand, wood or ashes.

She is constantly looking for new techniques. By visiting art exhibitions she is getting her own ideas for her work. Political incidents inspire as well such as the Crash of the Twin Towers in New York or the recent uprising in Egypt when people took off their shoes and put them on the gate in front of the Government. These are in her art. Other subjects in her art are the English and Scottish coast with boats on the shore.

Her relationship to Kloster Bonlanden in Bavaria has given D. the opportunity of organizing two exhibitions in the renewed barn nearby. Both exhibitions have been successful, received high attention and encouraged D. in her life as an artist.

Perspectives

After being asked what she would like to tell the young generation, she says, „Education is most important for a successful life. Take your chance of learning and studying. Be aware of your own development, make your own decisions.“

What are her own wishes? She wants to stay in good health in the coming years in order to be able to continue working and creating as an artist and organizing exhibitions.

Erdmute Dietmann-Beckert and Barbara Heinze, September 2011