Leben 2 (Life 2)

Visual Description

A woman dances with her upper body leaning far back. Her head is thrown back, her mouth open; she is laughing. Long dark hair flies to the side. She wears a short black top over a light blouse, a belt with coins and pendants around her hips and bangles on her wrist. One open hand reaches downward.

The figure is painted in blacks, grays and whites. Behind her, a band of violet, red and silver runs across the dark background, applied in spatters and gestural marks. It picks up the movement of the hair and carries it further.

Artistic Interpretation

“Leben 2” shows a moment in which a person is entirely herself. The dance is not a performance for others but an expression of joy. The thrown-back posture and the laughter make this energy immediately tangible.

The number in the title suggests that Hübner has taken up the theme of “life” more than once. Here he emphasizes its physical side: life as movement, as rhythm, as a moment that cannot be held on to and that the painting nevertheless preserves.

Art-Historical Context

Dancing figures are a central motif of modern art, from Henri Matisse to contemporary figuration. The costume and belt recall forms of belly dance. Hübner combines this world of motifs with his high-contrast black-and-white painting and a free, gestural background.

Exclusivity

The work is a unique piece in acrylic on canvas, measuring 70 × 50 cm and completed in March 2025. Hübner uses UV-reactive paint. Under black light, the interplay between figure and band of color shifts and a second level of perception emerges.

Collector Value

“Leben 2” belongs to the group of works “Body and Resonance” and was shown at Galerie Tschart in Leipzig in 2025. It suits collectors looking for movement, dance and positive energy in contemporary painting. In a room, it unfolds a lively yet clearly composed presence.

More About the Artist

Matthias Hübner (b. 1976) combines high-contrast figuration with intense color and an open, psychologically charged visual language in modern surrealistic realism. People, emotions and different levels of perception are at the center of his work. Since returning to painting in 2020, he has continued to develop his artistic position experimentally.

Early awards at the GDR youth painting competition in 1989 and the European painting competition in 1993, along with international recognition in recent years, mark his artistic development.

Condition Report

Very good condition; no visible defects. A detailed condition report is available on request.

Exhibitions and Awards

2025: Galerie Tschart, Leipzig, Germany