All Rounder

The Matusseks,moved in November from New York when Thomas Matussek took office as the new Ambassador. It was on their first visit when she learned the Indian classical dance Kuchipudi from Raja Reddy,the famous exponent of this form and has even given recitals at Washington DC,Portugal and India. But her introduction began with Rajika Puri,an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance exponent. “I attended her workshop in Bonn and I started taken lessons in both styles from her quite intensively. She gave me the good advice of continuing with the practice during the stay in India,” says the tall,slender German i her mid-50s,who looks nothing like a mother of three. Recounting the reaction of the audience to her performances,Matussek says,“I can do my make up pretty well,” laughs Matussek. “Some people didn’t even recognize me as a foreigner. It was only when they picked up the invite they saw my name. In India,the audience acknowledges with a note of pride and recognition,realizing the effort that goes into learning,” shares Matussek,whose last performance was in Washington in 1999.

Though Matussek has been in Delhi for a month,and is still in the unpacking mode,she has created quite a flutter in the town. Of late,she was hailed as an Indophile,when she walked the ramp for artist Alka Raghuvanshi in a sari at an art show at Claridges hotel. “It’s not the first time I am wearing a sari. I learned it when I first visited India. And it was quite fun walking the ramp,” laughs Matussek,who has a Masters in visual art and even taught art history and science to secondary level students when she lived in Bonn. In London and Washington DC,she organised art shows by German and American artists,showcasing their works at her residence “I painted quite a lot in Washington and even had my own studio. But I believe I have been quite a dilettante,” laughs Matussek,as she leads to the room,showing two oil works stacked on cardboard boxes.

Meanwhile,in India she’s hoping to involve with community-based projects. “There are a million opportunities to get active with. I have been part of a women’s organization which helped women in conflict zone. And I’m hoping to initiate similar projects in India,” says Matussek.