Friedensreich Hundertwasser
For his golden towers ("Zwiebeltürme"), colourful mosaics and bright spirals he is likened by millions, but critics laugh at him and call him beautifier ("Behübscher") and sugerbakery architect ("Zuckerbäckerarchitekt").
The artist, architect, and society-critic Friedensreich Hundertwasser calls for controversy.
Friedrich Stowasser was born on December-15, 1928 in Vienna, Austria. In 1929 his father died, so he was raised by his
mother.In 1936 he went to the Montessori school in Vienna. His younger years were interrupted by WWII, the jewish relatives of his mother were deported in 1943 and
killed.In 1948 he got his "Matura (Abitur)", and stayed three months on the "Wiener Kunstakademie" with Prof. Robin Christian Andersen.
Lasting impressions left a Walter-Kampmann exhibit in Albertina and the Schiele exhibit. Extensive study-trips brought him in the years 1949-1951 to Paris, Marrakesch, Tanger, Tunis, Italy and Spain.
In the winter of 1949/50, when he was in Paris with René Brô, Bernard and Micheline, he changed his name to Hundertwasser (since 'Sto' or 'Sta' in the slavic languages means 'Hundred' which is 'Hundert' in the german language). In 1961 - when he was living in Japan- he changed his first name to Friederich, then to Friedereich and as of 1968 he signs with Friedensreich.