Who is R. Friedrich Bliem?
The short answer:
R. Friedrich Bliem bridges art and science, exploring life sciences and robotics to reflect on human identity in a technological age. His paintings bring the hidden world of science into view, allowing audiences to sense and feel what is normally invisible to outsiders.
Background & Education:
Born in Austria, raised in Australia, worked in the UK and USA. He spent several years as professional musician before studying bioprocess engineering and pursuing training in fine arts – first by his father, and lastly with Rudolf Macek, both established professional artists.
from his teens
from his 20´s
Professional Path:
Initially active as a professional musician (as Rudy Bliem, a founding member of the Austrian band "Misthaufen"), later as a painter, cartoonist and scientific illustrator for renowned academic publishers such as Elsevier (including Trends in Biochemistry, Trends in Biotechnology) in Cambridge, Cardiff, and other.
Art Style & Themes:
His work aims to express scientific concepts, especially from cell biology, in aesthetically appealing images, whilst allowing access to the microcosm on a sensory level. In addition, his repertoire includes animal caricatures, often humorous and full of character. More recently he has also focused on the co-creation of images with AI-based robot printers.
Conclusion:
Friedrich Bliem is a multidisciplinary artist who combines art and science, especially through his visual interpretations of the microcosm. Known in Vienna through exhibitions in established cultural institutions, he plays a role in shaping the SciArt movement.
The early years as a musician
Rudy Bliem (above right) had studied classical guitar while in high school, later adding the blues harmonica and the musical "saw“.
In 1969 in Vienna, he met Momo and Alf in a clandestine folk cellar, called the "Ei", where they formed the German-language folk band Misthaufen. In this line-up the band they developed a distinctive, idiosyncratic sound and image in the tradition of the german "Politischen Lied" that brought them rapid success (see a selection of newsclips and recordings, below). By 1973 the group had expanded to 6, when Bliem left to focus on visual arts and connected sciences and the group had begun to follow a new, commercial sound and image.
Top photo (1973), from left to right: Peter Sideritz (bass); and Alf Krauliz (guitar, singer, composer, frontman and manager); Rudy Bliem (standing center figure, melody and rhythm guitar, blues harmonica, saw); Elk Kuscewski (violin) and Wolfgang Eyb (melody guitar), front Momo Klammbauer (guitar, bouzouki)
from art into research and development
In 1973 he became fascinated by the phenomena of synesthesia and sonochromatism. To explore this further, he decided, initially not in art schoool, but instead choose a science and technology programm at a university in Vienna, while continuing his art training outside the university. In 1979, he was mentored by Rudolf Macek, an accomplished artist from the Prager Academy of Fine Arts, who had built a career in Australia before moving to Austria. By then, Bliem had begun exhibiting his artwork in small galleries in Vienna.
This early blending of art, science and technology helped him realize that certain ideas, whether scientific, technical, or philosophical, could be communicated most powerfully through various visual forms.
This led to his work in illustration and caricature for magazine publishers provided both creative exploration and a stable income, particularly during his time in England.
In 1987 he accepted a position in research and development in the USA, which led to a path in science and technology, in academia «Research», in industry (eg Baxter) and as entrepreneur for the next 25 years, before once again returning to painting.
A common thread has been the repeated focus on the visual communication of scientific content.
and from there back to art
