Max Wiedemann is a German contemporary artist, whose self-imposed mission is to make fun of the materialistic World that we live in. His colourful art pieces are influenced by fashion, celebrity culture and status symbols of the modern World. He uses thought provoking phrases to awaken his audience of the shallowness of the World we live in. I saw his art exhibit a couple of years ago displaying Vogue covers with slogans such as “Closer to God in Heels” or “The Only Pain Is Champagne” in Miami Art Basel and ever since I have been following his work around the World. Some of his clients include Bono, Tamara Ecclestone, Karl Lagerfeld and Kate Moss.
Max Wiedemann
We met at the Westbank Gallery in Notting Hill in London to chat about his new exhibit Red Alert. He was funny and cheerful just like I remembered him from the first time we met in Palm Beach a few years ago.
Champagne by Max Wiedemann
What inspired you to become a pop artist?
I was in Germany and a friend of mine came along with a pen and he told me we were going tagging, so I asked him, what tagging was. He said, we are gonna to write our names. I said, that was easy and went along with it and I really fancied it. So we started doing street-art. It was not always legal, but it was always beautiful. I quickly realized that I didn’t want to do street graffiti, I wanted to take it to the next level and create art for galleries, but still using the spray can as a medium to convey my art. I opened a little workshop, where people would come and order some graffiti work and pay me some money for the jobs. I was still only like 16-17 at the time.
Just Breathe
Did you ever study art?
Never studied art. I didn’t even have art classes, I just started painting. After school, I did a Marketing apprenticeship. The CEO of the company I worked for saw my paintings and he commissioned me to do a painting for a client and he loved it so much that he asked me to do a whole wall for the company. He gave me my first studio, he sponsored me. Soon after, I got a huge opportunity to do some work for Lufthansa.
Marylin Monroe
How did your art evolve with time?
I still use the spray can today. Now, I am using more and more light. The Red Alert show has lots of items where I use light and neon. It is all about lightening people up. These are landscape paintings that try to bring more piece into people’s life. Red Alert means stop, chill out.
JFK
What does the show symbolizes?
The moral of most people these days is very low. The fast paced World is very demanding and challenging. So, this show is a red alert to call attention to our human values. Old-fashioned values have been lost. It is all about cash these days, everyone is demanding, presents and other material objects and if they don’t see the cash, they move onto the next guy. It’s a very vicious, nasty World. I think we are very torn inside.
Kate Moss
Don’t you think it is a bit of a paradox, that you make fun of the rich people with cash, but on the other hand, these are the only people who can afford to buy your art?
These are only people, who can afford it. Cash is important, everybody needs cash. I am talking about people, who have problems in life, who are not safe or happy, people with or without cash. The mission of my art has been the same for the last couple of years. Get back to your human values. It is not only about materialism, status, money. Also, my personal experiences have changed my art overtime. Some personal pain that I have recently experienced left me with some scares that had an impact on this show. My life is my biggest inspiration.
Rainbow by Max Wiedemann
Given your fairly young age, you are quiet famous. How did you become so successful so quickly?
After the campaign for Lufthansa, I did some work for Elle McPherson, did a campaign for VH1, things grew very fast. Then, I did a few shows in America, such as Miami Art Basel, I did other shows in New York, Paris, Berlin. It took a long time to get back to London. I love London, it is my home and I am happy to have a show here right now. I am very excited about this new show. I think it is really beautiful.
More Guns Than Roses by Max Wiedemann
What’s your favourite piece of this exhibit?
The vault is an evidence of a real crime scene. One of my sponsors a German count was burgled and he showed me that they try to rob him but the safe was so strong that they couldn’t open it. I thought it was a really cool idea to use the vault for my next exhibit. We came up with the phrase, “You can break my heart, but not the bank.” Many relationships are all about money, many girls are all about the money. Also, people are brutal and they are trying to rob others. So, the whole society is too brutal and it s all about survival. So this piece of art is the victory of the good people. We won.
The other side of the safe by Max Wiedemann
One side of the safe by Max Wiedemann
Which artists inspired you?
Lots of us are doing the same thing with spray cans. Its all about irony and making people laugh. I admire Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Warhol, Banksy, Brainwash.
Monet Talks by Max Wiedemann
What are you most proud of?
I have a baby boy, I have developed a career, I have lived in America. I have a wonderful family. I am happy, I am healthy. My career is rising. I am working with London Westbank, which is really great! I have a very good path ahead of me and I just want to keep going.
Karl Lagerfeld – by Max Wiedemann
What do you expect from the future?
I want to inspire others with the intellectual message that my art tries to convey. This World without art is very shallow. Art should continue to make people happy.
So all you have to do now dear reader, is to get down to Notting Hill to the London Westbank Gallery to check out Max’s latest and coolest collection. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
Artist in Action – Max Wiedemann
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About Barbara
Barbara is a London based luxury travel and lifestyle blogger. She started traveling through Paris, London, New York, Milan, Tokyo at the age of 17 to conquer the World as a model. Ever since, she has visited 67 countries. She writes about the most exclusive jet-set destinations such as Cannes, Venice Film Festivals, Monaco Grand Prix, Oscar Parties in LA, Fashion Weeks in Milan or Paris as well as yacht parties in St-Tropez, Miami Art Basel, Biennale in Venice, Frieze in London or the Royal Wedding in Monaco.
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