Rotraut Uecker Recounts Life with Yves Klein in Documentary
A video published by the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen features Rotraut Uecker, the wife and collaborator of Yves Klein, recounting their intense four-year relationship from first meeting to the artist's death at age 34 in 1962. Rotraut, herself an artist, met Klein through Arman, for whom she worked as an assistant, and they became inseparable. She describes Klein as "young, beautiful, and intense, like sunlight." The documentary explores Klein's artistic research and the theme of immateriality central to his work. Rotraut recalls Klein's belief that his work would be more complete if he survived only spiritually, and that shortly before his death he told a friend he would soon have the largest studio in the universe and create only immaterial artworks.
Key facts
- Yves Klein and Rotraut Uecker were together for four years, from their first meeting until Klein's death in 1962 at age 34.
- Rotraut Uecker met Yves Klein through Arman, for whom she worked as an assistant.
- The documentary is published by the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen.
- Rotraut describes Klein as 'young, beautiful, and intense, like sunlight'.
- Klein believed that if he survived only spiritually, his work would be more complete.
- Shortly before his death, Klein told a friend he would soon have the largest studio in the universe and create only immaterial artworks.
- Rotraut was Klein's companion, muse, wife, and collaborator.
- The documentary covers Klein's life and artistic research with emotional participation from Rotraut.
Entities
Artists
- Yves Klein
- Rotraut Uecker
- Arman
Institutions
- Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Locations
- Copenhagen
- Denmark