Jonathan Meese, Mama Johnny

In invariably overextravagant scenery settings made out of pictures, texts, emblems, signs and symbols, objects, and word-creations that deal with every imaginable person of power, myth and historical greatness of mind, stars and starlets of pop-culture, or with his heros from fiction and film, Meese creates his own universe far removed from the norm. It is populated by Caligula, Stalin, Marquise de Sade, Richard Wagner, Balthus, Zardoz orDr. No, to name but a few of the people and figures whom Meese gives new contexts of meaning to, and in doing so, intentionally goes beyond conventions and follows his own laws. With a total of 150 paintings, sculptures, photographic works and installations the show at the Deichtorhallen is the first comprehensive overview of Jonathan Meese’s work in Germany.