Le Manoir

Le Manoir Art, the cultural institution of Le Manoir Crememanufaktur by Dr. med. Peter Kessler realized the exhibition “Face it! Who do you want to be?“ at Ludwig Museum Koblenz. By showing contemporary art films and classic art works from Picasso to Andy Warhol, the exhibition deals with questions about the human face.

The exhibition shows the many facets of the human face: The way we feel and how we present ourselves to the outside world is reflected in our face: It becomes a mirror of our soul and at the same time it can function as a mask that we adapt to the ideals of society. As being an expert in aesthetic dermatology, it is of vital importance for Dr. med. Peter Kessler to draw attention to the obsessive striving for an idealized beauty, so many people trying desperately to reach, hoping to find happiness. More about the exhibition on lemanoirart.de/faceit.

With his own skin care line “Le Manoir“, dermatologist Dr. med. Peter Kessler helps his patients to improve their skin. In an interview he reveals what he particularly cares about when working as an expert in the field of Aesthetic Dermatology and why, as a patron of art, he hopes to create a difference in the world and stimulate new thought processes.

Dr. Peter Kessler at the exhibition „Face it! Who do you want to be?“, © Le Manoir Art/ Ludwig Museum Koblenz, Photo: Katharina Arimont

Several years ago I was called to a film set for dermatological advice. I helped an actress heal her irritated skin that was damaged by the constant application and removal of make-up. The atmosphere at the set, the medium film, which in my opinion has the ability to make a difference in the world as a form of art, all that has inspired me. So I commissioned the studied art historian Katharina Arimont to set up a company’s own, independent art section and to run its curatorial direction. Le Manoir Art offers young artists and filmmakers a platform. It supports them in the realization of their works and presents the results in cooperation with museums and cultural institutions.

I find the idea very exciting! Addressing the human face, with all its facets, as a kind of interface between inside and outside. In addition, it is not just about the question of who we want to be. At the end of the exhibition course curator Katharina Arimont confronts the visitors with the even more difficult question “Who can we be?“.

Of course, the topic beauty plays a big role in my work. But the question is: When is someone considered beautiful? In my opinion, this is the case when someone feels beautiful, when beauty comes from within, total perfection is not needed to be beautiful. However, health is really important too. Not for nothing it is said that the face is a reflection of the soul. Worrying causes worry lines and little sleep, for example through stress, makes the skin age faster. It is exciting to see how artists deal with these inner processes of perception.

When I treat my patients, I always pay close attention to their particular psychological state of mind and how it might influence their external appearance.

For me it is always important to maintain the individual facial expression of my patients. Now and then it happens that someone wants to be “restored” again, when he or she lost his or her self through too many beauty treatments; For some people, it is some kind of addiction. In that case I try, through my treatment, to rediscover and emphasize the individuality of the patient. I try to look at every person holistically, what moves him or her, what is his or her living condition.

The exhibition encourages people to find out who they really are, who they want to be, who they could be – or rather not want to be or can not be – and thereby addresses something that I, as a doctor, who “works“ with and “changes“ faces, experience every day. The idea of dealing with this topic, or rather literally “facing” it, is exciting to me. It is important to know who you are, what moves you- someone who is beautiful on the outside, is not always happy on the inside, but the reverse is the case. True beauty comes from within. Art has a socially changing power. It is important to me to raise awareness that the beauty ideals many aspire, are not the key to happiness. Bevor someone gets rid of his or her flaws, it is important that he or she thinks about the potential consequences of that act.