Karel Appel - If I Were a Bird

Dutch painter Karel Appel became known as co?founder of CoBrA, a movement that made a name for itself with abstract?expressionist work. By watching this documentary the viewer becomes a witness to Appel' working methods. Mat van Hensbergen observes him during the creation of a painting. For hours on end the painter watches the bare canvas, before suddenly attacking it, as it were. We also see him in the décor workplace for the opera Noah, for which he designed massive backcloths and pieces of scenery. He also explains his point of view towards expressionism, which for him is not only a free expression of feeling on the canvas, but particularly an outcome of the fight with matter. Other distinguishing Appel features are the permanent urge for renewal and an iron discipline. The now 74?year? old artist still forces himself to change his technique and style and wages a fight with 'routine watching'. When he notices that his work is selling too well he starts looking for something new: "When it becomes business, you should stop". (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)