Jonathan Meese
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Jonathan Meese is one of the most discussed German artists of his generation. His artistic work includes paintings, sculptures, installations, performances, collages, video art and theatre. He often thematises and ironises figures from world history, primeval myths and heroic legends. Gestures of power are exaggerated and caricatured. Meese's works polarise, provoke and fascinate in equal measure. His preferred motifs are the villains of contemporary history. He only succeeds in defeating them when his art is more radical than the reality.
In collaboration with the Sabine Knust Gallery, this series of woodcuts was created in 2008. Meese presents his figures in heroic poses and furnishes them with symbolism that is at times archaic, at times historical, together with lettering and titles that are not at all heroic. Each title begins with "Mr.", which is humorously complemented with fantasy names like "Banananniwurscht".
I think it's good that people get upset about certain things, it's wonderful. If no one gets upset here anymore and everyone says it's all fine, then it's merely decoration. (...).
Meese's works are exhibited internationally and are represented in renowned private and institutional collections, including the Centre Pompidou - Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris, the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, and the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Jonathan Meese (born 1970 in Tokyo) lives and works in Ahrensburg near Hamburg and Berlin.
About the technique
Woodblock printing is a letterpress process. To produce the printing block, the parts that are not to be printed are removed from a smoothly planed wooden board with cutting knives, and the raised parts are then inked and printed. The impression is made by hand rubbing, by means of a folding leg, or by a printing press.