Karel Appel - If I Were a Bird

Portrait of the Dutch artist Karel Appel (1921-2006). He acquired worldwide renown as one of the founders of the Expressionist art movement COBRA. Then 73 years of age, he made history with the statement 'I just mess around'. However he was no longer the wild young man of the COBRA years. On the contrary, his battle with matter was very disciplined. The film reveals Appel to be a versatile artist with an endless urge to work. His continual urge to innovate leads him from one country to another and he has made three-dimensional works and opera sets as well as paintings. By changing his home, the artist argues he acquires 'a new way of looking at things, gazing in amazement at new things'.