Johannes Heisig
Encyclopedia
Johannes Heisig is a German
painter
and graphic artist. His work combines the tradition of German socialist realism
with a subjective expressionism. He portrayed several famous German politicians such as Willy Brandt
, Johannes Rau
and former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück
.
The artist is represented by galerie son, Berlin.
" (i.e. Neo Rauch
).
In his father's studio Johannes learned early from his childhood on the art of painting. From 1973 to 1977 he studied Painting and Graphics at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig and from 1978 to 1980 he was Masterstudent with Professor Gerhard Kettner at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden (HfBK) where he was the president from 1989 to 1991.
After his withdrawing from his long-time teaching activity there he went from Dresden to Berlin.
He was invited to several residency programs at International Universities and worked as a Professor at the Dortmund University
(2003–2004).
In 2008 he presented his large works series "es war einmal" (once upon a time) which shows the topic of German separation both from a private and a public view in colored portraits and large black-and-white canvasses with scenes from both West and East. These artworks were presented to the public for the first time in the Berlin House of Representatives in 2008 and then in the German Embassy London.
One of Heisig's favorite subjects is Music
. He created several painting and lithograph series inspired by or referring to international musicians like Van Morrison
, Tom Waits
and Johann Sebastian Bach
.
His large triptych "Be Berlin or: The Unifying Power of Music" shows musicians playing beside John F. Kennedy
on his Berlin visit in the 1960ies sitting in a car together with Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer.
From 2010 to 2011 Heisig created his work series 'CROW' referring to the same-titled poems by Ted Hughes
.
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...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and graphic artist. His work combines the tradition of German socialist realism
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
with a subjective expressionism. He portrayed several famous German politicians such as Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
, Johannes Rau
Johannes Rau
Johannes Rau was a German politician of the SPD. He was President of Germany from 1 July 1999 until 30 June 2004, and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 1998.-Education and work:...
and former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück
Peer Steinbrück
Peer Steinbrück is a German social democratic politician. From 2005 to 2009 he served as German Federal Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Angela Merkel.- Early political career, Minister President :...
.
The artist is represented by galerie son, Berlin.
Life
Heisig comes from a family of artists. His father Bernhard Heisig was the principal of the Old Leipzig School and the teacher of many artists from the "New Leipzig SchoolNew Leipzig School
The term New Leipzig School refers to a movement in modern German painting. The usage and origins of this term are debated.The "old" Leipzig School was a term used by art journalists which had became established by some time no later than 1977, and the involvement of Werner Tübke, Wolfgang...
" (i.e. Neo Rauch
Neo Rauch
Neo Rauch is a German artist whose paintings mine the intersection of his personal history with the politics of industrial alienation. His work reflects the influence of socialist realism, and owes a debt to Surrealists Giorgio de Chirico and René Magritte, although Rauch hesitates to align...
).
In his father's studio Johannes learned early from his childhood on the art of painting. From 1973 to 1977 he studied Painting and Graphics at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig and from 1978 to 1980 he was Masterstudent with Professor Gerhard Kettner at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden (HfBK) where he was the president from 1989 to 1991.
After his withdrawing from his long-time teaching activity there he went from Dresden to Berlin.
He was invited to several residency programs at International Universities and worked as a Professor at the Dortmund University
Dortmund University
TU Dortmund University is a university in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany with over 20,000 students, and over 3,000 staff. It is situated in the Ruhr area, the fourth largest urban area in Europe....
(2003–2004).
Work
Johannes Heisig is known for his graphics and illustrations and his portraits for which he can also be considered a modern court painter.In 2008 he presented his large works series "es war einmal" (once upon a time) which shows the topic of German separation both from a private and a public view in colored portraits and large black-and-white canvasses with scenes from both West and East. These artworks were presented to the public for the first time in the Berlin House of Representatives in 2008 and then in the German Embassy London.
One of Heisig's favorite subjects is Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. He created several painting and lithograph series inspired by or referring to international musicians like Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
and Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
.
His large triptych "Be Berlin or: The Unifying Power of Music" shows musicians playing beside John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
on his Berlin visit in the 1960ies sitting in a car together with Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer.
From 2010 to 2011 Heisig created his work series 'CROW' referring to the same-titled poems by Ted Hughes
Ted Hughes
Edward James Hughes OM , more commonly known as Ted Hughes, was an English poet and children's writer. Critics routinely rank him as one of the best poets of his generation. Hughes was British Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death.Hughes was married to American poet Sylvia Plath, from 1956 until...
.
Exhibitions
- 2011: “ÜBERGÄNGE | CROSSINGS”, Willy-Brandt-Haus / galerie son / SEZ, Berlin
- 2009: “20 Jahre Deutsche Einheit”, Kunsthalle, Schweinfurt
- 2008: "3 berliner", German Embassy, London
- 2008: "es war einmal", Berlin House of Representatives
- 1990-1994: "New Territory - Art from East Germany", School of the Museum of Fine Arts, BostonMuseum of Fine Arts, BostonThe Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
/ The Art Gallery of the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College ParkThe University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
/ Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State UniversityWichita State UniversityWichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
, Kansas / LEHIGH ART GALLERIES (Hall and Wilson Gallery) Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania / and others, USA - 1992: “TURNING POINTS: EAST GERMAN ART IN REVOLUTION", Sunderland, Carlisle and others, Great Britain
- 1992: "To Those Who Begin Again-Art of East Germany", Art Gallery (Williams Centre for the Arts) of the Lafayette College, EastonLafayette CollegeLafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, PA /USA - 1989: "The Art of Young Painters of the 1980s from the GDR", Solothurn/Switzerland
- 1989: "Signs of the Times-Paintings and Graphics from the GDR", Tokyo-Nagano- Kumamoto-Kamakura-Kobe/Japan
- 1988: "Contemporary Painting of the GDR", Peking, Taiyuan /China
- 1986: VI. Triennale of India, Lalit Kala Akademi, New DelhiLalit Kala AkademiThe Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art is India's National Academy of Arts. It was an autonomous organization, established at New Delhi in 1954 by Government of India to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, both within and outside the country...
/India - 1982: XII. Biennale de ParisBiennale de Paris-History:The 'Biennale de Paris' was launched by Raymond Cogniat in 1959 and set up by André Malraux as he was Minister of Culture to present an overview of young creativity worldwide and to create a place of experiences and meetings.-Presentation:...
, Paris /France