Hannes Schmid Reclaims Marlboro Cowboy Images in New York Exhibition Amid Copyright Debates
Hannes Schmid, a Swiss photographer, showcases "American Myth: Paintings and Photographs" at the Mitchell Algus Gallery in New York City from September 8 to October 14, 2018. The exhibition includes four black-and-white photographs taken between 1998 and 2002, alongside four hyperrealist paintings centered on cowboy themes. Schmid gained recognition for his Marlboro Man advertisements (1992-2002), which were later reinterpreted by Richard Prince. This exhibition seeks to reclaim Schmid's original work following Prince's rephotographing. Notable pieces include Walk in the Woods (1998) and A Drag Moment (2002), as well as Cowboy #230 (2017). The event coincides with ongoing EU copyright discussions, highlighting concerns regarding meme regulation and the contentious nature of artistic appropriation.
Key facts
- Hannes Schmid's exhibition runs September 8 – October 14, 2018 at Mitchell Algus Gallery
- The show includes four photographs (1998-2002) and four paintings (2007-2017) of cowboy imagery
- Schmid created Marlboro Man advertisements between 1992 and 2002
- Richard Prince appropriated Schmid's cowboy photographs in his own work
- The EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market was under deliberation in June 2018
- Schmid's photographs follow visual templates established in the 1950s
- The exhibition address is 132 Delancey St, 2nd Floor, Norfolk Street at Delancey, New York City
- Vilém Flusser's 1983 monograph Towards a Philosophy of Photography provides philosophical context
Entities
Artists
- Hannes Schmid
- Richard Prince
- Frederic Remington
- Richard Estes
- John Ford
- Vilém Flusser
- T.S. Eliot
- ZZ Top
- David Lee Roth
- Cheap Trick
Institutions
- Mitchell Algus Gallery
- European Union
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Switzerland
- Monument Valley