Michel Majerus's 1995 notebooks published with transcriptions reveal artist's self-conscious reflections
'Michel Majerus: Notizen. Notes 1995' showcases three notebooks belonging to the Luxembourg-born artist, coinciding with an exhibition that surveys his early creations. During 1995, while residing in Berlin, Majerus was preparing for five solo shows, which included his inaugural midcareer retrospective at Kunsthalle Basel. The notebooks highlight his introspection and contemplation regarding his identity as a painter, drawing comparisons to esteemed artists such as George Condo, Georg Baselitz, and Andy Warhol. The disorganized notes encompass a variety of content and personal tasks. Editor Brigitte Franzen contends that Majerus's art should not be perceived as merely instinctive. Tragically, he passed away in a plane accident in 2002 at the age of thirty-five. This publication emerged from ArtReview's Summer 2018 edition.
Key facts
- Michel Majerus's 1995 notebooks have been published with transcriptions in German and English translations
- The publication accompanies a three-part survey exhibition of his rarely shown early works organized by his estate
- In 1995, Majerus was living in Berlin and preparing for five solo exhibitions, including a midcareer retrospective at Kunsthalle Basel
- The notebooks show Majerus questioning his role as a painter and comparing himself to artists he called 'dead suckers'
- Majerus died in a plane crash in 2002 at age thirty-five
- Editor Brigitte Franzen's essay argues the book challenges perceptions of Majerus's work as purely intuitive
- The notes contain diverse content from advertising slogans to personal assignments without hierarchy
- The publication appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of ArtReview
Entities
Artists
- Michel Majerus
- George Condo
- Georg Baselitz
- Andy Warhol
- Bruce Nauman
- Sol LeWitt
Institutions
- Kunsthalle Basel
- ArtReview
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Stuttgart
- Luxembourg