Artist: Helmut Middendorf
Exhibition title: Very
Venue: Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens, Greece
Date: December 10, 2021 – February 26, 2022
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Eleni Koroneou Gallery is pleased to present the exhibition “VERY” with new paintings and collages by Helmut Middendorf.
In the current exhibition, Middendorf shows again his great versatility and continuous exploration in creating his works. The new large-scale paintings comprise of blocks of colours in different geometrical shapes combined with collaged parts from the artist’s big collection of photo source material. Fragments of drawings, painted copies of images, logos and letters that Middendorf has collected or created himself emerge on the surface of his vivid and radiant canvases. These compositions give the paintings a special direction of meaning that can be ironic, absurd or even irritating.
The exhibition continues with a series of new collages. The collages are an integral part of Middendorf’s work, as he has been collecting images from the media (magazines, prints, etc.) systematically since the 1990s, which he then uses as a pool to create his collages. Whether in painting or drawing, photography or collage, the artist can always be seen in search of new approaches and means of expression.
Helmut Middendorf was born in 1953 in Dinklage, Germany. He lives and works in Berlin and Athens. In the 80s, he was part of the famous group “Neue Wilde” in Berlin. His work has been shown internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including participations in: “The 80s. Art of the Eighties”, Albertina Modern, Wien (2021); Galerie Sophie Scheidecker, Paris (2020); “Before the fall of the wall”, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Aarhus (2019); “Wilderness”, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt (2018); “The Invention of the Neue Wilde”, Ludwig Forum, Aachen (2018); “The Flâneur”, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Bonn (2018); “Innen_Welten”, Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel (2018); “Colorful. farbenfroh – Im Fokus: Dorothy Fratt”, Museum Art.Plus, Donaueschingen (2018); “Neue Wilde”, Groninger Museum, Groningen, Netherlands (2016), Städel Museum, Frankfurt (2015); “Geniale Dilletanten”, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg (2016), Haus der Kunst, Munich (2015); “Kunst in Berlin 1945 bis Heute”, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin (2013); “Chambres d’ Amis – Collectiepresentatie”, S.M.A.K., Gent, Belgium (2012); “Schlachtpunk Malerei der 80er Jahre”, Kunsthalle Darmstadt, Germany (2012); “The Last Grand Tour”, Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens (2011); “40 Jahre Gegenwart” Deutsche Bank – Collection, Luxembourg (2010); “Neoexpressionistic paintings from Berlin: Gift of Susan and Martin Sanders, New York”, Museum of Modern Art Tel Aviv, Israel (2010).
Middendorf’s works are included in over 30 Museum Collections worldwide, as Guggenheim Museum, New York; ARoS Museum, Aarhus, Denmark; Musée Centre Pompidou, Paris; Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt; SMAK, Museum voor Hedendagse Kunst, Gent, Belgium and in private collections.
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2022, exhibition view, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled, (F), 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 1.80 x 1.50 m
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled, (Very), 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 1.80 x 1.50 m
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled, (S), 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 1.80 x 1.50 m
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled, (U-turn), 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 1.80 x 1.50 m
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled, (OWL), 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 1.80 x 1.50 m
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled, (Very), 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 1.80 x 1.50 m
Helmut Middendorf, Very, 2021, Acrylic and collage on paper, 65 x 50 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Skull, 2021, Acrylic and collage on paper, 65 x 50 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Hamlet, 2021, Acrylic and collage on paper, 65 x 50 cm
Helmut Middendorf, We won’t get fooled again, 2021, Acrylic and collage on paper, 65 x 50 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Kicking ass, 2021, Acrylic and collage on paper, 65 x 50 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Shit hits the fan, 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 50 x 65 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Mask), 2020/21, Acrylic, cardboard, collage on paper, 65.5 x 45 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Hand), 2019/21, Acrylic, cardboard, collage on paper, 70 x 56 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Kakadu), 2021, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 59 x 52 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Bollenhut), 2018/21, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 48 x 58 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Model (Green), 2020/21, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 49.5 x 50 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Bull, 2017/21, Collage on paper, 42 x 67 cm
Helmut Middendorf, F, 2016/21, Collage on paper, 65 x 50 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Double Paltrow, 2021, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 44.5 x 65 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Very, very, very, 2020/21, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 69 x 55 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Running, 2019/21, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 63 x 42.5 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Horse), 2018/21, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 38 x 55.5 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Then screams, 2021, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 55 x 44 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Big hair, 2020/21, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 65 x 44.5 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Fassbinder/Schygulla), 2011/21, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 46.5 x 59 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Monkey (Shit hits…), 2021, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 59 x 49 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Empty faces), 2020/21, Acrylic and collage on paper, 57 x 40 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Moore and potatoes), 2012, Acrylic and collage on cardboard, 40 x 30 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Untitled (Sculpture, Head), 2009, Collage on paper, 30 x 20.5 cm
Helmut Middendorf, Skull, 2019, Collage, spraypaint and acrylic on cardboard, 58 x 48 cm