Maximilian Magnus

b 1984 Bavaria, Germany. Lives and works in Berlin .

ARTIST STATEMENT

The world is my stage, both with regards to the every day as well as to grand gestures: large paintings, complex stage design, international collaboration or teaching at my school is just as much part of my multi-layered artistic work, as the interior design of my flat or the preparing of my meal – I create aesthetic composition in each and every aspect of my life.
Painting is the backbone of my work. I create large, abstract-expressionistic images, diptychs or triptychs, which have reign over the space they populate. I work with acrylics, lacquer, charcoal and pencil, and gestural lines, drips and planes. The canvas is often unstretched and stapled to the wall or floor, so that it can take my whole body and energy. I am not necessarily careful and work physically with my entire body, in order to leave powerful gestures. Emotions, which I carry inside of me, I transfer and materialize.
I am not an intellectual, but emotional painter, who is inspired by the tidal waves of his own life experiences. Construction and destruction of colors, lines and planes are united as one entity to create something on the canvas that touches people. A transference through matter.
Music and dance are the origin of art and most definitely the origin of my own art. As a six year old I was already dancing ballet. This moving of my body as an expression of emotion is still visible in the way I bring color onto the canvas. It is not a tentative scurrying, but powerful and broad movements, energy, which is worked into the canvas, into a two dimensional state.
My collages and video works are more conceptual and I point out existing opposites and human relationships: poor/rich, beautiful/ugly, male/female. Every person beholds such opposites and needs to unite them in order to unfold their full potential. Flower works, a series of collages, refers especially to the female aspect of a man: „Only when I discover, embrace and honor my own femininity do I become whole and make full use of abilities and opportunities.“
Not only I, but all and everyone should be given the chance to reach their potential and experience the power of their creativity and own being. In order to offer space for such creative and spiritual exploration, I founded the Kulturegg in 2004 which encompasses the Children’s Art Academy, the Academy of Scenic Painting & Arts and Studio Schmidbauer. Through the various foundations we can offer theatre, pottery and painting workshops for children and a fully acknowledged apprenticeship of scenic painting and arts for 18 to 30 year olds. At Studio Schmidbauer we realize large productions for international theaters, operas and fairs. Set design, conception and interior design is realized for a.o. Robert Wilson, Rufus Wainwright and Xavier Naidoo.
At the very base of this complex construct is my mother’s work, academy and praxis: Life counseling and spiritual development. Konstanze Schmidbauer is a cultural educator and has been leading and devising meditation seminars, painting and sculpting workshops and conceptions for contact with spiritual worlds for over 40 years. Her work and personality ties the Kulturegg and its various components into one whole.
The world is one of constant change. I aspire to contribute to this global moving with a holistic approach of being and working. Move the World, is a platform that I founded, a movement and header that subsumes my artistic and social projects with which I wish to establish an awareness of a new, more peaceful world, also beyond my own life time. KIKUAK is part of this movement, just as much as my music, performance and artistic collaborations or various art works.

Vita

  • Education
  • 2004-2007 Scenic painting - Louis Lepoix School - Baden-Baden - DE
  • Exhibitions
  • 2017
  • Heimspiel - Künstler Stiftung Kaufbeuren - DE
  • 30 Contemporary Artists by Enter Art Foundation - Multipolster - Berlin - DE
  • 2016
  • Art Basel Miami - Miami - USA
  • What's Up 2.0 - London - UK
  • #6 - Millerntor Gallery - Hamburg - DE
  • 2015
  • Neusicht - Kunst & Kulturfestival - Neubad - Luzern - CH
  • Macrocosmi : Patterns of a new Order - Berlin Art Week - Berlin - DE
  • Berlin 1a Coletiva Experimenta - Galeria Lume - Sao Paulo - BR
  • #5 - Millerntor Gallery - Hamburg - DE
  • 2014
  • #4 - Millerntor Gallery - Hamburg - DE
  • 2013
  • I’mpossible - CU1 Gallery Miami - Miami - USA
  • Trafo - Stettin - PL
  • Transkriptionen - Mila Kunstgalerie - Berlin - DE
  • Musaramix Festival - CSC Gallery - Berlin - DE
  • ICONIC - Rudi-Dutschke-Straße 26 - Berlin - DE
  • Group show - Wagner Möbel Manufaktur - Mindelheim - DE
  • 2012
  • Travelling Souls - Berlin Earnest - RosaCaleta - Berlin - DE
  • Groupshow - MW - Manufaktur Showroom - Mindelheim - DE
  • New works - Studio 49 - Berlin - DE
  • 2011
  • Barcelona-Berlin Showcase - Wagner Möbel Manufaktur - Mindelheim - DE
  • Emotion - KD Private Showroom - Berlin - DE
  • Immersion - EVIVA Showroom - Berlin - DE
  • #1 - Millerntor Gallery - Berlin - DE
  • 2007
  • Interdisciplinary - Crucible Studio - Berlin - DE
  • Max - kroom design - Munich - DE
  • 1. Mai - Studio Schmidbauer - Unteregg - DE
  • Wagner Möbel Manufaktur - Mindelheim - DE
  • Flow - Studio Schmidbauer - Unteregg - DE
  • Willem de Kooning Studio - New York - USA
  • Medici Center - Bayreuth - DE

To: Maximilian Magnus

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Works by Maximilian Magnus