Gust Graas
Encyclopedia
Gust Grass (born 1924) is a Luxembourg
businessman and painter who has not only played a major role in the development of Luxembourg-based radio and television concern RTL
but is also a talented abstract painter.
in the south of Luxembourg. During the German occupation of Luxembourg
, he was forced to join the Wehrmacht
but managed to desert. After the liberation, he studied law at Louvain
and Paris
.
, in 1952 he joined CLT RTL as secretary general. In 1975, he became director-general and a member of the board. He gave the company a more European dimension and, in 1983, created RTL Television
, Germany's first private television station. Graas was also a co-founder of Luxair
, Luxembourg's airline, which he headed for over 20 years.
painters from the Paris School with whom he maintained contact. In 1970, he was awarded the Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe
.
Since his retirement in 1989, he has lived in Pollença
on the Spanish island of Majorca where he has continued to paint. His exhibition Mis años en España (1989-2003) clearly shows how the sun and colour of the island has influenced his work. Explaining the background to his art, Graas commented: "My paintings fully express my feelings about life and about life after death".
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
businessman and painter who has not only played a major role in the development of Luxembourg-based radio and television concern RTL
RTL Group
RTL Group is Europe's largest TV, radio and production company, and is majority-owned by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. It has 45 television and 32 radio stations in 11 countries...
but is also a talented abstract painter.
Early life
Graas was born on 19 December 1924 in Esch-sur-AlzetteEsch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
in the south of Luxembourg. During the German occupation of Luxembourg
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II was the period in the history of Luxembourg after it was used as a transit territory to attack France by outflanking the Maginot Line. Plans for the attack had been prepared by 9 October 1939, but execution was postponed several times...
, he was forced to join the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
but managed to desert. After the liberation, he studied law at Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Business career
After working as a lawyer in Luxembourg CityLuxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, in 1952 he joined CLT RTL as secretary general. In 1975, he became director-general and a member of the board. He gave the company a more European dimension and, in 1983, created RTL Television
RTL Television
Rtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
, Germany's first private television station. Graas was also a co-founder of Luxair
Luxair
Luxair S.A., Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne, operating as Luxair, is the flag carrier airline of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It operates scheduled services to 50 destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean and Middle East, plus charter and seasonal summer services....
, Luxembourg's airline, which he headed for over 20 years.
Artistic work
In parallel with his business career, Gust Graas also took an active interest in art, producing paintings and works of sculpture. When studying in Paris, he had met several ImpressionistImpressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
painters from the Paris School with whom he maintained contact. In 1970, he was awarded the Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe
Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe
The Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe is a Luxembourgian art award awarded every year to one or more artists exhibiting at the Salon Artistique of the Cercle artistique de Luxembourg ....
.
Since his retirement in 1989, he has lived in Pollença
Pollença
Pollença is a town and municipality situated in the far north corner of the island of Majorca, near Cap de Formentor and Alcúdia. It lies about 6 km west of its port, Port de Pollença.-History:...
on the Spanish island of Majorca where he has continued to paint. His exhibition Mis años en España (1989-2003) clearly shows how the sun and colour of the island has influenced his work. Explaining the background to his art, Graas commented: "My paintings fully express my feelings about life and about life after death".