Color and Rhythm Work of Liechtenstein Abstract Artist B¸chel Is Bright, Bold by Carolyn Chapman ìHave you ever heard of Liechtenstein,î asked Manfred Fritsche as I wandered around the exhibition for Liechtenstein artist Elisabeth B¸chel at CP Artspace. I had heard of Liechtenstein, but I had to admit that I unfortunately did not know anything about the tiny principality other than where it is located on a map. That did not seem to phase Fritsche, husband of Ambassador of Liechtenstein Claudia Fritsche, as he continued to tell me about his countryóa landlocked mountainous region between Switzerland and Austria that is roughly the size of Washington, D.C. I learned quite a bit about Liechtenstein that night, particularly about its art scene, which is very active and well rounded for such a small nation. ìWe have an extremely lively cultural identity, especially considering our size,î agreed Ambassador Fritsche. ìWe have everything from events that are rather folkloristic to a very good theater.î Now that Fritsche has settled into her new embassy, which officially opened earlier this year (see the March 2003 issue of The Washington Diplomat), she is working to int roduce Washingtonians to Liechtenstein art and culture. ìConnectionsóEarth and SkyóCanvas and Colorî by Elisabeth B¸chel is the first exhibition of what Fritsche hopes will be many more to come. But the problem is that unlike larger embassies with built-in exhibition space, the Embassy of Liechtenstein works out of rented office space in the building next to CP Artspace. Fritsche, who is always scouting out spaces for possible events, regularly passes the gallery on her way to work each morning, and one day she decided to approach the gallery about hosting an exhibition. Fritsche and B¸chel have known each other for the past 20 years, and CP Artspace selected B¸chel for the show among a list of possible artists. The first thing that viewers will notice about B¸chelís abstract paintings is her use of color: The natural patterns are bright, bold and rhythmic. B¸chelís style is also marked by her flowing shapes and lines. ìI donít refer to imagesóitís just the color and the shape, but not geometrical shapes. Each line has the freedom of the hand,ì said B¸chel. ìI use these lines and these simple shapes as my own vocabulary. I put them down as my own language. I donít use images because I want to develop these shapes and lines as my vocabulary.î The majority of B¸chelís paintings are untitled because the artist believes that sticking a title on a work will bias viewersí thoughts on what they are seeing. ìWhen you look at them you have your own thinking. Itís more important what the image means to you. Each image means something different to different people,î said the artist. ìI donít want to teach anything with my paintings and I donít want to tell a story.î Rather than telling a story or portraying a particular image, B¸chelís paintings are all about the act of painting itself. She focuses on producing colors, lines, shapes, and rhythm with her brushstrokes. The process of painting is what B¸chel said she savors, creating shapes and canvases filled with horizontal lines connected by varying shades of one color or big blocks of color encased by another color. B¸chel, who has been painting for more than 20 years, studied at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. Like all Liechtenstein artists, she had to leave her native country to study art since Liechtenstein has no art university. ìItís good that we study in different countries,î B¸chel said. ìThatís important to go to other places when you live in a small country, to meet other people, and to make new experiences.î B¸chel said she hopes to have her next exhibition at her alma mater, the University of Tulsa, but until then she has other plans to expand her work. ìI want to develop my paintings higher and bigger,î she said. ìIím also looking for more transparency.î If Fritsche has her way, Washington will meet many other Liechtenstein artists in the coming years. In addition to the space issue, Fritsche also worries about the competitiveness of Washingtonís embassy art scene. To compete with bigger embassies, ìwe will have to be a bit creative,î she said. For a woman who began an embassy from scratch, however, those seem like problems that can easily be overcome. ìConnectionsóEarth and SkyóCanvas and Colorî by Elisabeth B¸chel runs through Dec. 12 at CP Artspace, 1350 I St., NW. For more information, please call (202) 326-0447. Carolyn Chapman is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.