The artist 

Three "A's" are enough to describe Herbert Wallner: artist, Austrian and altruist. 

During his 20 years of experience as a professional painter, Herbert Wallner, who describes himself as a free-spirit man, has already accomplished a lot: more than 4500 paintings, several exhibitions (mainly in Austria, Germany and Switzerland), a world record for the longest painting - which he calls the 'largest Wallner', and several social actions including a fruitful collaboration with SOS Children's Villages Austria for whom he painted 1000 buttons for fundraising purposes - the 'smallest Wallners'. 

For him, "art is connecting people and culture: it opens doors to the heart of people". 

As for his style, a German art critic once described his art as 'real-cubism'. "I take real things (people, objects, etc.) and I divide them into smaller pieces before putting them back together in a different way", confirms the artist.   

200 meters long, for the Children Cancer Organisation in Graz 

Herbert Wallner realised his first world record in the Austrian city of Graz, his hometown. The 200 meter long painting was exposed in the streets of Graz in July 2006 and given to the Children Cancer Organisation in Graz, who sold it bit by bit to raise funds. 

That's what really launched Herbert Wallner as a recognised artist. He confessed that realising this special painting was hard work, as nobody believed in him at first. But very soon, fame came along! The city of Graz even gave him an official 'town atelier' and he soon was recognised as a 'charity painter'.  

 Many meters high for SOS Children's Villages The Gambia  

Herbert Wallner wants to realise his second world record for the profit of SOS Children's Villages The Gambia*. Not only does he want to do it for SOS Children's Villages The Gambia, but he also wants to paint his world record in SOS Children's Village Bakoteh, starting mid May 2007!  In fact the artist is full of ideas and projects when it comes to working with SOS Children's Villages The Gambia. 

 * The money raised will be allocated to improve the SOS Regional Mothers and Adult Training Centre in Bakoteh, as per Herbert Wallner's request. The role of the mother if very important for the artist: "Without my mother, I wouldn't be where I am now. My mother raised me and my four siblings by herself, as my father died when we were young. Training mothers and young girls can only benefit the children." 

"I want this second world record to be an inter-cultural project, combining European and African spirits, keeping my own style though", says the artist. "And I also want my painting to reflect the challenges and successes of SOS Children's Villages The Gambia", he adds.

Along to this big painting project, the artist also wants to share is passion for art and his experience with all the children. "I would like to produce an 'SOS Children's Villages international pattern' with the SOS children in Bakoteh. And as far as the older children are concerned [from the village or the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School in Bakoteh], I would like to do paintings with them and teach them how to mix colour, show them the different types of papers, explain them that painting is fun but is can also be a work, help them develop their own style, which is important for an artist", he explains. "I'm sure they will love it! And I am sure there are artists living there! My plan is to organise, once a year,  an exhibition in Europe with the paintings of the young people from SOS Children's Villages The Gambia."

Establishing a world record: some technical aspects to be considered 

One would understand that as of now, the size of the painting cannot be revealed. "Anybody could want to steal me record", explains the artist with a smile. "In fact, to be on the safe side, I have ordered a special wideness of paper to make my piece of art.  It is slightly bigger than the standard size to make sure others don't beat my record so easily!", he confesses. 

Establishing such a world record in The Gambia surely requires a big organisation! "The way it looks now, I'll have to bring up to a lot of linen and paint from Austria! I'll paint with acrylic paint on a 100% linen paper from Boesner", explains Herbert Wallner. 

The painter also has to include some 'local factors' in his equation! In The Gambia, the rainy season usually starts early June. Even though it does not rain all day long and every days, standing a few seconds under Gambian rain during the rainy season is like receiving a bucket full of water on the head! And Herbert Wallner, due to the gigantic size of paper parcel he'll paint [and assemble with glue and stitch to make the big painting], will have to paint outside! "I might have to include the rain drops in my painting!", he admits with his constant positive attitude. Luckily for him, in SOS Children's Villages Bakoteh, there is a small African hut next to the sports field where he'll be painting most of the masterpiece! But as he says with a smile, "I'll probably loose some weight, with the tropical heat and the sprints I'll have to run to escape the showers!" 

Anyways, these are all little technical aspects Herbert Wallner has already considered! And if everything goes fine, by the end of September 2007, there will be a new world record established, and SOS Children's Villages The Gambia will sure be linked to it!