Michel Majerus
Encyclopedia
Michel Majerus was a Luxemburgian
artist whose work combined painting with digital media
.
His work was featured in a number of solo and group exhibitions in Europe and North America, most notably the "Pop Reloaded" exhibition in Los Angeles
.
, Luxembourg
in 1967.
His artwork first came to international attention in 1996 with an exhibition at the Kunsthalle
in Stuttgart
, and then with subsequent exhibitions in Munster
and Dundee
.
In 1998, he was invited to participate in Manifesta
2. Subsequently in 1999, he created a major work which was presented on the facade of the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
.
Nine of these works would eventually become the "Pop Reloaded" exhibition in Los Angeles
. "Pop Reloaded" emphasised the visual confusion of urban landscapes and the scale and domination imposed by freeway billboards and office towers. It drew on works by Cy Twombly
, Mark Rothko
and Gerhard Richter
in inscribing logos and detail on the dull greys and blacks of a cityscape.
The paintings were accompanied by a video of a constantly changing image of Majerus' signature, to illustrate the idea of celebrity as a constantly changing concept.
In November 2002, Majerus was killed in the crash of Luxair Flight 9642
while travelling from Berlin to Luxembourg.
(Germany
) in 2003.
Entitled “Painting Pictures”, the exhibition was a celebration of Majerus' genre and was dedicated to his memory. Other painters represented in “Painting Pictures” included Takashi Murakami
, Sarah Morris
, Franz Ackermann
, Matthew Ritchie
, Torben Giehler
and Erik Parker.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Majerus family and the Galerie Neugerriemschneider, Berlin. It includes works usually displayed at the Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin, the Kunsthaus - Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz and from private collections throughout the world (Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Great-Britain, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Portugal, USA).
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...
artist whose work combined painting with digital media
Digital media
Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
.
His work was featured in a number of solo and group exhibitions in Europe and North America, most notably the "Pop Reloaded" exhibition in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Life and early works
Majerus was born 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...
, Luxembourg
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...
in 1967.
His artwork first came to international attention in 1996 with an exhibition at the Kunsthalle
Kunsthalle
Kunsthalle is, generally, in German speaking regions a term for a facility mounting temporary art exhibitions. Some are run or supported by a local Kunstverein, an art association of local collectors and artists...
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, and then with subsequent exhibitions in Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
and Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
.
In 1998, he was invited to participate in Manifesta
Manifesta
Manifesta, the , is a European pan-regional contemporary cultural biennale, described in 2010 by the as "stunning in its scope and uncompromisingly experimental in its approach".-Manifesta History:...
2. Subsequently in 1999, he created a major work which was presented on the facade of the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
.
"Pop Reloaded" (Los Angeles, 2002)
After moving to the United States in 2000, Majerus began work on a series of thirty large-format paintings incorporating digital media and animated videos.Nine of these works would eventually become the "Pop Reloaded" exhibition in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. "Pop Reloaded" emphasised the visual confusion of urban landscapes and the scale and domination imposed by freeway billboards and office towers. It drew on works by Cy Twombly
Cy Twombly
Edwin Parker "Cy" Twombly, Jr. was an American artist well known for his large-scale, freely scribbled, calligraphic-style graffiti paintings, on solid fields of mostly gray, tan, or off-white colors...
, Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko, born Marcus Rothkowitz , was a Russian-born American painter. He is classified as an abstract expressionist, although he himself rejected this label, and even resisted classification as an "abstract painter".- Childhood :Mark Rothko was born in Dvinsk, Vitebsk Province, Russian...
and Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has simultaneously produced abstract and photorealistic painted works, as well as photographs and glass pieces, thus undermining the concept of the artist’s obligation to maintain a single cohesive style.- Biography :Gerhard Richter was born in...
in inscribing logos and detail on the dull greys and blacks of a cityscape.
The paintings were accompanied by a video of a constantly changing image of Majerus' signature, to illustrate the idea of celebrity as a constantly changing concept.
Death
In 2001-02, Majerus' works were exhibited in Berlin, London and New York, and additional works were in production for exhibition in 2002-03.In November 2002, Majerus was killed in the crash of Luxair Flight 9642
Luxair Flight 9642
Luxair Flight 9642 was a flight from Tempelhof International Airport, Berlin, Germany, to Luxembourg-Findel, Niederanven, Luxembourg, near Luxembourg City....
while travelling from Berlin to Luxembourg.
"Painting Pictures" (Wolfsburg, 2003)
A posthumous exhibition of Majerus' works was featured at the Kunstmuseum of WolfsburgWolfsburg
Wolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) in 2003.
Entitled “Painting Pictures”, the exhibition was a celebration of Majerus' genre and was dedicated to his memory. Other painters represented in “Painting Pictures” included Takashi Murakami
Takashi Murakami
is an internationally prolific contemporary Japanese artist. He works in fine arts media—such as painting and sculpture—as well as what is conventionally considered commercial media —fashion, merchandise, and animation— and is known for blurring the line between high and low art...
, Sarah Morris
Sarah Morris
Sarah Morris , is a British-born American artist.-Education and exhibitions:Morris double majored in Semiotics and Political Philosophy at Brown University, graduating magna cum laude...
, Franz Ackermann
Franz Ackermann
Franz Ackermann is a German painter and installation artist based in Berlin. He makes cartoonish abstraction....
, Matthew Ritchie
Matthew Ritchie
Ritchie attended the Camberwell School of Art 1983-86. He describes himself as "classically trained" but also points to a minimalist influence.Ritchie's art revolves around a personal mythology drawn from creation myths, particle physics, thermodynamics, and games of chance, among other...
, Torben Giehler
Torben Giehler
Torben Giehler was born in 1973 in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, and lives and works in Berlin and New York City. He is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston...
and Erik Parker.
"European Retrospective" 2005-2007
Commencing in 2005, approximately two hundred of Majerus' works have been displayed as the "European Retrospective" travelling exhibition.The exhibition is a collaboration between the Majerus family and the Galerie Neugerriemschneider, Berlin. It includes works usually displayed at the Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin, the Kunsthaus - Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz and from private collections throughout the world (Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Great-Britain, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Portugal, USA).