Jonathan Meese, OMA STARWARS OPA, 2014-17. Mixed media. Courtesy of the artist, Galleri Bo Bjerggaard and CHART in Tivoli 2023
Photo: Jan Søndergaard
About The Work
For CHART in Tivoli 2023, Jonathan Meese is showing ‘OMA STARWARS OPA,’ a sculpture of a "Darth-Vader-Cosmic-Child" sitting on a tree stump with a walking staff in one hand. The child holds a lamb in his arms and he wears a basketball cap with a clock on his head. Together, these elements create an idea of the child as a figure that is free of ego and political beliefs, whose only concern is that of love.
Jonathan Meese’s work is continually interested in the 'Dictatorship of Art', where a certain sense of freedom to play and freedom of expression are constantly evolving. According to the artist, this is a work that can be understood as communicating the following: “NO CENSORSHIP! ART IS THE FUTURE! ART IS LOVE!”
Jonathan Meese, OMA STARWARS OPA, 2014-17. Mixed media. Courtesy of the artist, Galleri Bo Bjerggaard and CHART in Tivoli 2023
Photo: Jan Søndergaard
Jonathan Meese, OMA STARWARS OPA, 2014-17. Mixed media. Courtesy of the artist, Galleri Bo Bjerggaard and CHART in Tivoli 2023
Photo: Jan Søndergaard
Portrait of Jonathan Meese
Courtesy of Galleri Bo Bjerggaard
About The Artist
German artist Jonathan Meese (b. 1970, Tokyo; JP) lives and works in Berlin and Ahrensburg. Meese’s work spans across painting, drawing, sculptures, and performance but also extends to writing, stage design, and directing within the field of theater and opera. His practice addresses certain uneasy aspects of German political history and seeks to adopt ideological symbols and empty them of meaning. The subjects of his work have included Richard Wagner’s three act opera “Parsifal”, and more recently, the American actor, John Wayne.
Jonathan Meese is represented by Galleri Bo Bjerggaard.
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