Born in Strasbourg-Neudorf, on 14 September 1938. Son of Marcel Waydelich, cabinet-maker and Frieda Schneider, botanist.

 

“I was sent to Soursac in the Perigord during World War II to stay with my grandmother, Frédérique, my grandfather Emile, and my mother. Back to Alsace in 1941, we were housed in Gougenheim where I attended school in 1943. Two years later in 1945, we returned to Neudorf. It was the end of the war and I heard  French for the first time. At that same  time, I discovered bananas, chewing gum and the transistor radio (American). In 1947,in the local cinema, I made the acquaintance of Zorro, Errol Flynn and John Wayne. I became a dreamer and was expelled from the municipal school rue du Lazaret. Hopeless, at 10, I attended the Matzenheim college. I read in the newspaper "Spirou" and the stories of Uncle Paul,

 

In 1949 I became seriously ill and turned back to Neudorf rue du Zellenberg. During the 18 months I was confined to bed, I took the time to read, a miracle. Destiny did not want me dead. I started dreaming of fishing, palm trees, travelling...

At 14, I was apprenticed to my father, a wood sculptor. At 15, by the grace of Professor Louis Fritsch, I was accepted  in art school in Strasbourg (Ecole des Arts Decoratifs). My life was changed. It was another world. At the end of four years I obtained my first diploma and Grand Prix of the city of Strasbourg. I passed the entrance exam of the Arts Deco School of Paris, where I spent two years and obtained my second diploma.

In 1959, I served in the army, in the  Information & Photos section. After 9 months, I  joined the photographic division and  left France for Algeria as a photographer for 18 months of war. In 1961 I made my first photographic report on the Roman archaeological sites in Algeria. At the beginning of 1962, I returned to my father's cabinet-making business in Neudorf as a decorator.

It was around 1970 that I started my own artistic creations.

I travelled to North Tunisia to the archaeologic site of Tabarka.

In 1972 I travelled and visited the ancient sites of Ephesus, etc. in Turkey. In 1973 I found a manuscript dated 1890  which belonged to an apprentice fashion designer, Lydia Jacob, born in Neudorf. I started to tell the story of her life, she has become my associate. My life was transformed, and Lydia became a star. I had my first exhibition in 1973/74.

In 1978, I was chosen for the Venice biennale, ten years after Hans Arp. In the French Pavilion (commissioner J.J. Leveque), I exhibited "L'homme de Frehof, 2720 apres J.C." which I dedicated to Lydia Jacob.

The exhibitions and travels continue.”

 

                                         R.E. Waydelich : Merchant of Happiness and Archeolog of the Future

 

EXHIBITIONS AND FAIRS

 

1974

Pforsheim, Galerie Günter Krauss D

Hugstetten, Galerie Regio D

Paris, Galerie Le soleil dans la tête » F

1975        

Köln, Internationale Kunstmesse D

Eutlingen, Galerie Domberger

Basel, Art 1975, One man show, Galerie Regio

1976        

Hagen, Karl Ernst Osthaus Museum, Galerie Domberger D

1978        

Venise, Biennale de Venise, Pavillon Français, I

L’homme de Frédehof « 2750 Après J.C. »

Hommage à Lydia Jacob, Ministère de la culture Française

1979        

Rotweil, Kunst Forum Rotweil, Commissaire Claude Rossignol

1980        

New York, Art Expo 80, USA, Galerie Domberger, Reutlingen

1981        

Strasbourg, Musée Zoologique et d’histoire naturelle, France

1984        

Strasbourg, Musée Archéologique « 3500 nach Christus », Conservateur B. Schnitzler France

Freiburg, Tief Garage, Augustiner Platz „3500 nach Christus“

Galerie Regio, F. Kost D

1985        

Cordoba, Museo de Arte Moderno Emilio Caraffa, Argentine

Ministère de la Culture Française, J.Lang et G. Estève

1986        

Mulhouse, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Conservateur M.Fuchs, France

Paris, Centre National d’art Plastique, France

Dallas, Gallery Goldstrom USA

1988        

Lund, Kunsthalle Lund, Schweden. Rétrospective Lydia Jacob Story

1989        

New York, Galerie Foster Goldstrom USA

1990        

Kehl AM Rhein, Galerie in den Stadthalle, Deutschland

1991        

Paris, Galerie Arlette Gimaray, France

1992        

Olten, SEGA, H. Heberli et M. Hasswirth, Schweiz

1993        

Basel, Galerie Otmar Triebold, Schweiz

Liège, Galerie Art Actuel Belgique

1994        

Villefranche s/Saône, Centre d’art Plastique, L’île d’Orsi, « 3720 après J.C. » France

1995          

Strasbourg , Musée archéologique, Mutarotnegra, « 3790 après    J.C. »Conservateur Schnitzler, Place du Château des Rohan,Ville de Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg, 1^er Caveau du Futur «  3790 » après J.C. Place du Château des Rohan, Ville de Strasbourg, France

1996        

Frankfurt, Galerie « Die Galerie », Peter Pfender, Deutschland

Colmar, Edition R. Bucciali, Gravures Afrika, France

1997        

Kassel, 2^ème Caveau du Futur  3790 après J.C“ Luther Platz, Deutschland Kassel

Museum für Sepulcral Muséum, Mutarotnegra « 3790 après J.C. », Deutschland

Mochental, Galerie Schrade, Schloss Mochental Deutschland

1998        

Colmar, Centre D’art Contemporain André Malraux France

Karlsruhe, Haus der Regionen, Deutshland

Offenburg, Kunstverein, Deutschland

Hugstetten , Gelrei Regio F. Kost, Deutschland

1999        

Strasbourg , Centre européen d’Action Artistique Contemporaine, Hommage à Lydia Jacob aux Jardins Familiaux », Rue de la Fourmi, La Robertsau, France

Esslingen, Lydia Jacob Story, Kusntverein Esslingen, Villa Merkel, Deutschland

Strasbourg, Galerie L’Estampe, France

2000        

Ribeauvillé, La cave vinicole de Ribeauvillé, „Vins et Tapis du Népal“, France

Colmar, Remy Bucciali Editions, « Voyages d’hôtels », gravures France

Paris, Galerie Guy Moch, France

Epelborn, Epelborner Volksbank Deutschland

Tokyo, Galerie MMG M. Yusaku Masuda, Japon

Freiburg, Galerie Blau, gravures et Tapis du Nepal, Deutschland

Strasbourg, Galerie L’Estampe, France

2001        

Filderstadt, Galerie Domberger – Die Insel- Deutschland

Karlsruhe, Galerie Schrade, Deutschland

Strasbourg, Galerie L’Estampe, France

Aalen, Galerie Zeiss, Allemagne

Crailsheim, Stadtmuseum im Spital, Allemagne

Hong Kong, Galerie les contes d’orient, Aquarelles Turquie

Tokyo, Galerie MMG M. Yusaku Masuda, Japon

Mochental, Galerie Scloss Mochental, Deutschland

Kehl, Galerie Ewers, Deutschland

2002

Strasbourg, Galerie L’Estampe, France

Toulouse, Galerie Kandler, France

Frankfort, Die Galerie, Deutschland

Rotweil, Forum Kunst, Deutschland

Berlin, Galerie Aquaforte, Deutschland

Offenburg, Galeire Wild, Deutschland

2003        

Guttersloh, Galerie Grabenheinrich, Deutschland

Hohenkarpfen, Ofgut (Antibes – Schwartzwald – Hohenkarpfen), Deutschland

Strasbourg, Conseil protestant de Strasbourg, Année de la bible

 Un livre pour l’an 3454, France

2004        

Freiburg, Galerie Eberwein. Les céramiques Majolika de Karlsruhe et éditions F. Delille de Paris.

Stuttgart, Gunter Krauss Schmucken. Céramiques Mayolika, Deutschland

Freiburg, Buromarkt Streit., Deutschland

 

 

 Permanent exhibition in Galerie L’Estampe (Strasbourg)

                                              

Strasbourg : St’art

Paris : Art Paris

New York : Art Expo

Frankfurt : Ambiente et Tendence

Birmingham : Spring Fair