Sometimes you encounter art where you least expect it. For example, on a wall in the Berlin Zoo, where there has been a mural by Frank Krüger for more than four decades. It can still be viewed today, and Frank himself stops by from time to time when he visits Berlin to make sure the picture is still there.
Art in the zoo
Anyone who knows a bit of the history of Frank Krüger also knows that Frank has always been very animal-loving and liked to surround himself with animals of all kinds. Even though Frank knew early on that his heart beats for art and that he also wanted to earn his living with it, after school he went into normal working life. From the age of 16 to 19 he worked as an animal keeper at the Berlin Zoo and there had the opportunity to live out his second great passion – working with the animals. Since then, of course, he has had a lot in common with the Berlin Zoo, and there are still many contacts from that time today.
But even if Frank himself is no longer in the zoo, at least one of his works of art has been preserved there. In 1980 he painted his first mural there, which can still be seen today. In the meantime, the wall around it has of course been painted many times, but the picture has always been preserved. If you look closely, you can see a clear break through the new layers of paint – and even some of the pencil lines from the preliminary drawing.
Formative years
Frank Krüger was very influenced by his time at the Berlin Zoo. Not only has he grown as a human being through working with the animals and has once again built up a completely different relationship with them. This time also influenced him greatly on the artistic side. So Frank worked in the elephant house for a while, where he built up a very special bond with the pachyderms. This can still be seen today in the many elephant paintings that have emerged over time and now have a large fan base. Lions and tigers have also been painted by Frank and are well received by customers.
For Frank, animals are simply a part of life and respecting them is particularly important to him. Five cats currently live with the family and at times there was also a foster horse. Once you’ve been obsessed with animals, you just can’t be without them. And so we will certainly be able to see great art by Frank Krüger in the future!
