When Paul Klee tells stories: Series of podcasts on the artist's travels

For its 15th anniversary, the Zentrum Paul Klee is for the first time issuing a series of podcasts on the exhibition Mapping Klee (05.09.20—24.01.21). On his travels, Paul Klee received crucial impulses, many of which he was able to transpose years later in his extraordinary pictorial worlds. These are experiences with a long-term effect. In relation to five selected journeys the podcast provides an insight into Klee’s artistic development from clueless student to one of the most important modern artists. Three prominent voices speak for Klee: Sebastian Koch, Carlos Leal and Edwin Thomas. The soundtrack was designed by Berlin DJ and producer Boys Noize.

“Podcasts are the best everyday companions, whether at home on the sofa, outside in nature or when commuting to work,” says Thomas Soraperra, Business Director of the Zentrum Paul Klee. “With our first series of podcasts, produced by maze pictures swiss with the support of Engagement Migros, we can bring Paul Klee even closer to people.”

The podcasts from the Zentrum Paul Klee can be accessed in German, French and English, and allow the public to attune themselves to the exhibition Mapping Klee in advance of their visit. Paul Klee documented his impressions in diaries and postcards and in numerous letters, most of them to his girlfriend and later wife Lili Stumpf, his parents in Bern and his son Felix Klee. In five sequences listeners travel with Paul Klee to Italy, France, Tunisia and Egypt. At the same time they will immerse themselves in the art world of the early 20th century, meet Klee’s friends and family and receive a personal insight into the artist’s thoughts, whether profound or humorous. The podcasts are appearing weekly from Friday, 21 August, on the relevant platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. The podcasts are free.

Prominent actors have been recruited as speakers: Sebastian Koch (German), Carlos Leal (French) and Edwin Thomas (English) lend the Bern artist their voices.

Sebastian Koch is one of the most internationally in-demand German actors of his generation. He made his breakthrough with the Oscar-award-winning cinema film The Lives of Others (2006). Since then he has been seen in many international film productions, including Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book (2006), Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (2015) and Tom Hooper’s The Daish Girl (2015). Koch has also made a name for himself as a narrator in audio-books and musical-literary live performances. He has read texts by authors including Dosto-evsky, Tolstoy and Schnitzler – and now those of Klee.

Sebastian Koch was introduced to Klee as a child. Asked what connects him with the artist he answers: “It was the colours, those intensely beautiful colours, and the forms. I associate Klee with a very clear childlike look at life and nature. In those forms, in that geometry, there is a tension that is special and unique. It has accompa-nied me throughout my life, it feels like coming home. So I was delighted to make the Podcast, because I was interested in the man.”

Carlos Leal began his career as lead singer and co-founder of the successful European hip-hop band Sens Unik. He left the group in 2000 to devote himself entirely to acting. He moved to Los Angeles with his family, and since then he has regularly appeared in series such as Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Last Ship and Better Call Saul. Leal speaks five languages and has worked with such renowned directors as Pedro Almodóvar (Broke Embraces), Roland Joffé (There Be Dragons) and Martin Campbell (Casino Royale). To the delight of his fans, he released his second solo album, Reflections, in 2015. Mapping Klee is his first podcast.

“There is this feeling of naivety in Klee, which, in fact, is no naivety. He is such an intelligent and well-informed human being, which justifies everything he does – be it in colour, in form or material. I am intrigued by his work!”

Edwin Thomas trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. After numerous roles in televi-sion series such as Victoria (ITV) and Into the Night (Netflix), he had his big-screen debut in The Happy Prince (2018). Rupert Everett’s film tells the story of the last two years of Oscar Wilde’s life in Italy and France. For his role as Wilde’s lover, loyal friend and confidant, Thomas was nominated as a ‘star of tomorrow’ by Screen In-ternational.

Edwin Thomas, who encountered Klee as a student, rediscovered the artist through the podcast and felt per-sonally enriched to engage once again with Klee’s life and the extraordinary diversity and radiance of his works: ‘I think that’s what this podcast is about – it’s instructive in the truest sense of the word. Through the personal description of his travels we can all approach his pictures in a new way.’

Whether underground or on a big stage, whether in the Berghain club or Glastonbury – Alex Ridha, better known as Boys Noize, is one of the most important DJs and producers of electronic music. Apart from his stu-dio albums such as Oi Oi Oi and Mayday he has produced countless remixes for such diverse musicians as Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg and Depeche Mode. In 2020 he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his production of Midnight Hour (together with Skrillex and Ty Dolla Sign).

Support
Mapping Klee is a series of podcasts by the Zentrum Paul Klee, produced by maze pictures swiss and supported by Engagement Migros.

The Podcast