Friedensreich Hundertwasser was an Austrian painter, architect and environmental activist known for his colorful and imaginative works. He was born in Vienna in 1928 and lived through the horrors of World War II and Nazism.
He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, but abandoned his studies and traveled throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. He was inspired by different cultures and art styles and developed his own distinctive style, characterized by organic shapes, bright colors and a rejection of straight lines.
Hundertwasser was not only an artist, but also a visionary who advocated the protection of nature and harmony between man and the environment. He criticized modern architecture as monotonous, uniform and hostile to life and proposed alternative models that would promote individuality, creativity and environmental sustainability.
He designed several buildings that realized his ideas, such as the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, the Waldspirale in Darmstadt, and the Green Citadel in Magdeburg. These buildings are characterized by irregular shapes, colorful facades, green roofs and window rights that allow residents to design their windows according to their taste.
Hundertwasser was also a committed environmental activist who worked to protect forests, oceans and rivers. He founded several organizations and initiatives to spread and support his causes. He gave numerous lectures and manifestos in which he presented his vision of a peaceful and natural world.
Hundertwasser died in 2000 on board the Queen Elizabeth 2 off Brisbane. He left behind a rich and diverse legacy that continues to inspire and influence many people today. He was an artist for nature, who showed us how to live in harmony with it.