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New book - and new online shop

I just released a new book, and so it takes total sense that my new shop is online! If you are interested in my latest publications, please go shopping here!

Currently there are only three products: all my still available exhibition catalogues or books from my last three solo shows:

THEY ALL MUST BE SLAUGHTERED | EXHIBITION CATALOGUE (2024)

My new book is a documentation of my last solo exhibition „They all must be slaughtered“, which was my final show with heliumcobwoy that took place at TheMISSION in Hamburg (now MEGA contemporary).

Due to a sweet little error on the cover, every book comes individually embellished (signed) on the front (surprise!).

52 pages, 24 x 17 cm.

Limited to 150, signed and numbered.

12 € plus shipping

Let me know if you would like me to write a special dedication


IT'S ALL GOOD. | ALEX DIAMOND AT BARLACH HALLE K. – THE BOOK (2022)

Rare and limited Edition Book about “It’s all good.”, my largest solo exhibition to date, that took place at Barlach Halle K. in Hamburg, 2022.

Limited to 50 (!) copies, numbered and signed and with individually painted & hand printed cover by me (and Lucy!).

152 full color pages, 24 x 17 cm.

55 €


FUCK THIS SHIT. | EXHIBITION CATALOGUE (2021)

Catalogue released on the occasion of the triple-header-exhibition “in other words: <_blank>” at the heliumcowboy gallery, June – August 2021, featuring individual presentations of the work of Boris Hoppek, Jens Rausch and Alex Diamond.

“In other words: <_blank>” was the first exhibition by the gallery in Hamburg to open its doors to visitors in June 2021, following several lockdowns and three postponements. It was conceptualized the year before – already in the face of the difficult situation that has changed all of our lives and has also posed a major challenge to the creative industry.

Three cataloges were published, one for each artist, focusing on their part of this exhibition.

This is the catalogue about my contribution to the show, consisting of the special installation “F.T.S.” (Fuck this Shit).

60 pages, 23,5 x 18 cm

Photography: Julia Schwendner

Art Direction: Fabian Wolf

12 €


F.T.S. Installation & exhibition "In other words: <_blank>"

My installation F.T.S. at heliumcowboy. Click the image to visit the gallery website including the work.

My installation F.T.S. at heliumcowboy. Click the image to visit the gallery website including the work.

Just some quick images from my installation at heliumcowboy as part of the triple header exhibition “In other words: <_blank>” with Jens Rausch and Boris Hoppek.

The opening was awesome. If you missed it, there’s a Catalogue Release Reception June 25, 17:00 – 21:00. Also the gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 13:00 – 19:00, and by appointment. You can get in touch with Melvin here.

Below these wonderful photos by Julia Schwendner (thisisjulia.de) you can find my artist statement about the installation.

ARTIST STATEMENT


„I think my work is influenced by the fact that we're living in dangerous times. If I could put it in a sentence, in fact, my work is about just that: living in dangerous times.“ Don DeLillo

Well. I know. I am a fucking artsy smartass, quoting Don DeLillo. But hey, it is true, we are living in dangerous times, and that not just depends on where you’re socially located - at the bottom of the food chain, or on top of the money making game. Capitalism probably has never been easier to understand because its effects are so blatantly visible and so shamelessly displayed.

I absolutely relate my work and especially this series to DeLillo’s source for inspiration. And the danger I am referring to is not just a matter of perspective as stated above. I personally feel that despite the fact that every minute, every second of the day any possible opinion is posted to potentially everybody who is able to hold a smartphone (yes, you don’t even have to be able to read, images are feeding your thoughts just the same), our reactions are dulled and our survival instincts have been drowned by convenience.

In 2005 DeLillo also said that „writers must oppose systems. It's important to write against power, corporations, the state, and the whole system of consumption and of debilitating entertainments [...] I think writers, by nature, must oppose things, oppose whatever power tries to impose on us."

Replace „writers“ with „artists“, add Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok etc. to the list of „debilitating entertainments“ - and there you go. I agree 100% with the wise man on this.

I have always been a politically active person. I have been at least in parts radicalized in my youth, which was a very good time for it because the issues and problems then required action, the same as today but still very different. Getting older, I never ceased to speak my mind and express my often strong and - subjectively seen - alert and vigilant opinion. But I have also been domesticated by life, by choices, by the environment. In my art career, which by now spans several decades, I have been tempted as well to go for the aesthetics and fashion. It is an easy trap to fall into if you are trying to make a living with this shit. It is even worse today where likes and followers are treated as some kind of currency by a social media driven society.

But for many years now I have worked hard to come up with my very own aesthetics and with unique techniques of visual storytelling to find my very personal and individual way to express my concerns, my cares, my love for nature and humanity and my rage towards greed, oppression and intolerance. It is through working with wood and construction and carving with sharp blades and heavy paint and hard work and solid craftsmanship and absolute dedication that I try to create artworks that matter and that are expressive and political.

I believe art can be a beacon to shine a spotlight on society and our lifes, and a flag to be raised in battle. It can be more subtle than a punch in the face or the burning of police cars, but it has the same potential to raise awareness.

This is what I want my voice to be in this crazy, messed up, violated and fucked with but still so lovable world. The installational series I have been working on for this special exhibition in these weird times reflects this. The progress to get to this point was a struggle, and a constant inner debate, even though held mostly in private until the show for numerous reasons, but still … a fight. A battle. A bloodshed at times.

Like an undercurrent one of my favorite expressions for a while now flows though this series. Some may see it an expression of resignation, but that is not my interpretation. I feel it should be rather shouted out loud as a call to action:

Fuck this shit.



Jörg Heikhaus aka Alex Diamond, June 2021