Ernestine Tahedl RCA, OSA Biographical Notes

etahedl@interlog.com
Web Page: www.interlog.com/~etahedl

Ernestine Tahedl was born and educated in Austria and received a Master's Degree in graphic art from the Vienna Academy of Applied Arts. Following graduation in 1961, she collaborated with her father, Professor Heinrich Tahedl, in the design and execution of stained glass commissions until she immigrated to Canada in 1963. Her work is represented in public, corporate and private collections and galleries in Canada, United States, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Japan. Her awards include the Graduation Prize of the Austrian Government 1961, the Bronze Medal of the Vienna International Exhibition of Paintings 1963, the Allied Arts Medal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada 1966, and a Purchase Award, Concourse Artistique du Quebec 1966. In 1967 she received a Canada Council Arts Award, in 1999 the Mayor’s Prize at Kyoto ’99, Kyoto, Japan, and in 2000 the Kobe Sun Prize at Flora Art 2000 at Awaji Island, Hyogo, Japan. She was elected a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1977 and of the Ontario Society of Artists 1984. She received the Governor General's Canada 125th Anniversary Medal in 1993. She was the recipient of the Arts and Letters Award from the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto in 2000, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the “In Celebration of Women” Long-term Achievement Award, Arts, in 2004. She was invited to participate in the Biennale Internazionale dell’Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy in 2003. She received the President’s Medal of the Ontario Society of Artists in 2006. The Varley Art Gallery of Markham organized and presented a Retrospective 1946-2006, curated by Katerina Atanassova, Curator, Varley Art Gallery of Markham, in 2006. This Retrospective travelled to several centers in Ontario: the John B Aird Gallery in Toronto, the Durham Art Gallery and the Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery. Tickle Scratch Productions produced a film for the Bravo television series: “The Artist’s Life: Ernestine Tahedl” under the direction of Michael Glassbourg in 2007. Preparations are underway for a solo exhibition in Niederösterreichische Dokumentationszentrum für Moderne Kunst, DOK, in St Poelten, Austria, in September 2012 and for the Moderna Galerija, Zagreb, Croatia in November 2012.

In 2013 a shows of recent works took place in the Kulturforum of Austria in Bratislava, Slovakia and at the KULTUREBENE, Schloss Pöggstall, Lower Austria in July 2014.In 2015 Tahedl participated in the Group show: 10 Jahre Mitteleuropa -/ Donauraumausstellungszyklus ”FERNE NÄHE” Stift Lilienfeld, Austria. In 2016 her work with her Fathers work was shown in a large exhibition in the Künstlerhaus, Vienna, Austria under the title: Heinrich Tahedl / Ernestine Tahedl Versammelte Werke. 2016, 9 Mosaic panels by Ernestine Tahedl commissioned 1965 that were reclaimed from the Canada Post office formerly on site are now part of the new Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton Alberta. 2016, she has been awarded the Golden Decoration of Honour for services to the Republic of Austria. In 2017 an exhibition of recent paintings will be in the Monastery of St Florian, Austria.

Statement

My more recent paintings allow me to immerse myself into "pure" painting without being lost in it. Over the years I have searched for this freedom in my work. I explore and try to find the balance between the realistic image and the pictorial values for my paintings.

The concept of multiple canvases and panels has always fascinated me. It leads me towards the medieval concept of religious paintings and their spirituality. I hope that spirituality and serenity are integral to my work. Colour and light are additional factors that guide my work. Colour to me is light. For me, the Series come close to a musical experience and were painted and inspired listing to classical music which is reflected in the titles.

I feel these paintings are a more direct, human and spiritual expression without confinement of the motif or formal restriction; yet still consist of all those elements that I have explored in my work over the years."

Artist Ernestine Tahedl talks to the Royal Alberta Museum - August 26, 2016