The Surrealism Website
Wolfgang Grässe (1930-2008)





At the age of 15 years Wolfgang Grässe survived the destruction of his home town of Dresden in the bombing raid of 1945. After the war, in 1948, he wanted to return to Dresden which was then in East Germany and under Soviet control. Unfortunately he had drawn a cartoon showing Stalin on the gallows. The 18-year-old was sentenced to 25 years in prison! Luckily he was released after eight years under an amnesty in 1956 and was deported to West Germany.
He then emigrated to Australia, and settled on the island of Tasmania where he created some wonderful paintings. Somehow he had managed to overcome the terrible experiences of his early adulthood. Many of his paintings have an apocalyptic theme or deal with the question of death. Unfortunately his work has been much neglected.
Wolfgang Grasse died in Penguin Tasmania on or about 17 August 2008. His partner Noelene had drowned several days prior.