Likörelle – a recipe for success in Lindenberg style
7 October 2025A glass tips, the eggnog flows – and suddenly a drawing blooms in bright colors. This is how the myth about the invention of the Liqueurelle. Location of the legend: the bar of the Hamburg Hotel Atlantic, Lindenberg's second living room. Others place the origin on Sylt. What is important is not where it happened – but that Udo made his trademark out of a coincidence: the Liqueur, a word created from Liqueur and watercolor.
Liqueurelle can now be found in our current exhibition Udo Lindenberg. Comet-like panic – liqueurs, udograms, nudes & much more. The entire udoversum is coming to the Ruhr area!, along with many other pictures in acrylic and watercolor paints or in Edding, can be admired in the original.
But how exactly do the liqueur paintings come about, if not by chance, and what do the works tell us in this unique painting technique?
With his new self-image, now also working as a visual artist, Lindenberg intensified his drawing and painting in the 1990s, and was immediately captivated by the astonishingly beautiful color effects of the liqueurs. In addition to eggnog, which provides the yellow of sand and sun, he uses Blue Curaçao for blue, Batida de Coco for white, peppermint liqueur for green, and grenadine for red. Another alcoholic substance is also used: coffee liqueur contributes the brown tones. Lindenberg applies the spirit with his bare finger, creating a flowing, boundary-dissolving effect. The colors, he rarely uses more than two or three per picture, direct the eye, highlight body parts and clothing, and bring the drawings to life. The figurative and actual alcohol foams, fizzes, and splashes from champagne glasses, and the movement of dancing people takes on a unique dynamic through the intermingling colors.
The works are stored with a fixative and secured behind UV glass. In 1997, Lindenberg had the designation Liqueur "Another unique selling point with high recognition value, which also secures its place in art history," writes Dr. Christine Vogt in the accompanying catalogue.
Thematic
On his Liqueurelles In typical Udo style, curious characters cavort. But also thoughtful and ironic (Reality is only an illusion that arises due to lack of alcohol I) and of course the artist himself – always immediately recognizable by his hat, long hair and sunglasses – become the subject.
Self-portrait I and Little Red Riding Hood I, 1995 © Udo Lindenberg Archive
Example Red
Red is a real eye-catcher in works such as Self-portrait I, Little Red Riding Hood I (both from 1995) and What's gonna happen? (2000). The self-portrait depicts Lindenberg's likeness in shades of brown and beige—only the bright red sunglasses stand out, drawing attention to this trademark. Even without any additional information, it's immediately clear to the viewer: This is Udo!
Rotkäppchen is a profile portrait of a woman in which only red is used, with the exception of the black eye. Besides the lips, the hair of the determined-looking figure is red. Although the title refers to the little girl's red headdress from the fairy tale, the hair in this case is long, red. It evokes associations with a wild, self-confident punk, who stands in contrast to the naive fairy tale character.
In What's gonna happen? Udo Lindenberg, plagued by alcohol excesses, returns to the Atlantic-Hotel bar. The red-tinted skin draws the eye to the face – and to the despair inscribed within. The color red thus not only accentuates certain parts of the picture, but also conveys emotion and supposedly provides insight into Lindenberg's psyche. In this work, the Writing (What's gonna happen?) plays an important role ‒ but more about that next time.
What's gonna happen?, 2000 © Udo Lindenberg Archive
Many Liqueurelle more could be listed here: The Babelsberg with an oversized champagne glass or the one drowning in Blue Curaçao blue Alcohol Girl I, the meeting of the gentlemen Mr. Cock and Mr. TailBut we don’t want to give too much away: Until 23. November can see the appearance and effect of the Liqueurelle be learned and studied in detail. What is your favoriteLiqueur?
Lena Elster
General