“I
retired 20 years ago. For the first few years I just
rested, but after some time I started to get bored.
A year ago I started to paint, and since then ideas
keep coming into my head for new paintings”,
explains Alfons Edelmeyer, a.k.a. “Manox”,
an artistic name that refers to the creative hand
(“mano” is “hand” in Spanish)
and the unknown (x).
From their living room, Margrit and Alfons Edelmeyer
contem-plate the intense green of the country on
the outskirts of Santa Eulalia. The sky is
bright blue.
This cosy apartment, where they have been living
for the last 6 years, is where Manox creates
his artwork.
In the summer he paints on the terrace; in the winter
in an office-turn-ed-workshop or in the living room.
The painter sees himself immersed still in the experimental
phase and practices different styles and techniques.
He has even tried out the difficult tech-nique of
gilt relief, which involves covering surfaces
with gold
leaf. In his paintings, Manox shows emotions or states
of mind. He rarely represents specific objects, but
knows he can transmit something and that his artwork
is full of meaning.
He says that as a youngster he was interested in
painting and he ex---pe-ri--mented with colours,
but when he
got married at 24 to Margrit and started a family
with her, his hobby was displaced by work.
The pensioner
recalls his successful and interesting professional
life with satisfaction: “They were good times,
rich in experiences.”
What made Alfons Edel-meyer start to paint at the
ripe old age of 80?
When he did not find the satisfaction he seeked
in other activities, such as handling a computer,
one
day Margrit suggested that he take up painting
again. Although he felt a little unsure at first,
Manox
liked the idea, he gathered paints and brushes
and, at this
moment, his life is governed by his painting
work. He feels satisfied and at peace. His
two children
really like his paintings, as they admire his
creativity, and he is also encouraged by the
respect shown
for his art by friends and acquaintances.
For Manox, Ibiza is the ideal place to live and
paint, due to the incomparable light, the lack
of harsh
winters like German ones, and the openness
and kindness of
people. “We had been con-sidering the possibility
of moving south for a long time, and were looking for
the right place. When we came to Ibiza on holiday six
years ago, we knew we had found it.” The
holiday turned into a permanent stay. They are
both impressed
by the mentality of the island. When they go
shopping they notice that people take the time
to exchange a
few words or to smile when they cross in the
street.
The couple live alternating between Ibiza and Germany.
Manox has opened an online art gallery for
his family, friends and acquaintances (http://web.me.com/manox)
where he show-cases around 70 pieces, all
of them created within a single year of creative
work.
Manox
paints
without feeling tired. He enjoys the benefits
of
his apartment here, which requires less care
than the house
and garden the couple had in Germany.
At the moment he is exhibiting his work at “El
Naranjo” restaurant in Santa Eulalia, and
is also looking for other exhibition possibilities.
If
he continues at his present rate, soon they will
not have any more room for his paitings in the
apartment!
The message he wishes to give to older people is
that it is never too late to start doing
something different,
to find a new hobby or revive an old
one, even to start a new life. Margrit and
Alfons Edelmeyer
left
their
old life in Germany in 2003. They are
very glad they did and enjoy the change. What
they
want to
say to
older people is: “Good cheer and courage!”.
