… to close out the year. Most likely the last work I am carving in 2021. Like all th eother black pieces already for my big exhibition in June 2022.
I’ll keep you posted.
.
The Alex Diamond & Weingut Tesch Selection 2021
For this festive season, me and my friend, winemaker Dr. Martin Tesch curated a limited edition of Wine-and-Print boxes!
It is available in 2 different bundles - each consisting of six bottles of three different wines by Weingut Tesch, with labels designed by me (from my original F.T.S. artwork). One Box comes with one Print („I miss your touch“) and the other with all three prints of the labels.
Martin and I have been friends for many years and we have creatively influenced each other on the topics of art, wine, life, politics and rock music. In Spring this year I had the privilege to open an exhibition at the winery in Langenlonsheim (more about ROOTS here, video from the Zoom opening here) .
The artwork we chose for the labels are from my exhibtion F.T.S. and deal with the isolation and social estrangement of our recent times.
AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE (or at the heliumcowboy gallery)
Box #1: all six wines plus Print “I Miss Your Touch”, Edition of 60
Box #2: all six wines plus 3 Prints: “I Miss Your Touch”, „Just one Kiss“, „I want to feel you so close to me“, Edition of 30
WINES:
2 x RIESLING “T” 2020 (0,75 l) 12,5%
2 x Weissburgunder “T” 2020 (0,75 l) 13%
2 x SPÄTBURGUNDER “T” Red wine dry 2020 (0,75 l) 13%
more info: www.weingut-tesch.de
PRINTS:
Archival Pigment Prints (Giclée) on Hahnemühle Fine Art Paper
Paper size: 30 x 21 cm
Signed and numbered by the artist
Embossed with the heliumcowboy seal to ensure their authenticity
Artwork from my 2021 installation “F.T.S.” (more info)
AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE (or at the heliumcowboy gallery)
Alex Diamond (wood) & Pablo Villafuerte (guitar): MACACO
First: turn the sound on!
Something very special today - this fast forward clip from carving my most recent Alex Diamond artwork is a collaboration with the classical guitarist & chamber musician Pablo Villafuerte (@pablovillafuerteguitar on instagram), who composed the music to this video - and especially for this one. Which is so beautiful, I am truly grateful for the time and creativity (and craftsmanship!) Pablo devoted to this. Amazing. And I LOVE it so much, I hope enjoy this too, please make sure to listen till the end, it’s sooo good. 🙏❤️
The name of the piece is „Macaco“ … which is monkey in Portuguese. The artwork did not have a title yet, but since Pablo sent over the final video last night the title of the music would actually suit the carving quite well too :))
Thanks a million Pablo!!!
First work of the black series: "The Balance"
So I have finished this first work from the new “black series” of multi-layered woodcut-paintings … initially to be shown at my December exhibition with Victor Castillo, but hey, surprise surprise that was postponed yet again, new date to be announced. Anyway …
I am very happy with the result and am looking forward to move further with this body of work. Stay tuned.
The Balance (2021)
Cut and carved wood, acrylic paint
105 x 85 x 7,5 cm (41.4 x 33.5 x 3 inches)
Some details:
Wahllokal
ELITE, 2021
Acrylic paint on wood with lighter in wooden frame
36.5 x 56.5 cm
check availability
These two works were included in the exhibition „Wahllokal“ that took place on Germany’s big election day September 26, 2021 at the heliumcowboy gallery. It seems that the message is clear but in reality, ELITE is not just about the upper class, but it is referring to all those multiple levels and gatekeepers we create as a society today.
This work is simple and straightforward, just sawed right out of leftover, seasoned wood at my workshop (but nicely framed though 😂). One of the intentions included is that whoever buys this goes all the way - and burns it. It’s not mandatory, but it would only be consequent. You still have a contract for the purchase and some fiery images, which is saying more about the work than the actual wooden piece … I’ll assist burning it, of course, so we can make a nice performance out of it to remember it by …
If it hasn't been purchased and burned already, you might check for its availability here.
COMPLICIT, 2021
Acrylic paint on wood in wooden frame
47 x 36.5 cm
check availabilty
Paper Positions Hamburg
A selection of my drawings were shown at paper positions Hamburg, international art fair for works on paper..
As a curated exhibition focusing on drawings, collages, and prints, 𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚐 - 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 presents 19 of Hamburg's leading galleries for contemporary art and 4 guest galleries, each showing a selected artistic position that reinterprets this classic medium.
The show took place from August 27 to 29 in the majestic corner building Brandshof, the former headquarters of inland shipping company Schlesische Dampfer Co.
Find the exhibited work and more info at the heliumcowboy website.
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.
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
Opening at heliumcowboy June 5 & 6: "In other words: <_blank>"
Today opens my exhibition alongside fellow artists Boris Hoppek und Jens Rausch at the heliumcowboy artspace Gallery in Hamburg. I built an instalational piece including 18 of myna works. I’ll show you after the opening, for today it’s for those who attend the first public Vernissage of the year 2021 at the gallery.
So glad it all worked out, if you are in town - it’s a not-to-be-missed exhibition by all three artists, curated by the new gallerist of heliumcowboy, Melvin Heikhaus.
Opening is all weekend long, Saturday from 14:00 – 20:00 and Sunday from 14:00 – 18:00.
"In other words: <_blank>": Exhibition opening moved to June 5
So, we have a new date again for the triple header exhibition “In other words: “<_blank>” (together with Jens Rausch and Boris Hoppek) that was supposed to open in March, then in May, and now over the course of the weekend June 5 & 6. I will show a new body of work that I will present in form of an installation within one room of the heliumcowboy gallery, working title “r.evol.ution”.
There will be a catalogue released as well as a new print edtition. Looking forward to this, it has been too long.
r.evol.ution
Fresh work in the studio. Made some good progress recently on a new series, working title „r.evol.ution“. It might still change though. Everything is in a state of flux.
All in preperation for an installation planned for the upcoming exhibition “in other words: <_blank>” opening May 8 at heliumcowboy (in Hamburg and online).
Something to calm the nerves
In times like these turning to nature it is a great way to calm the nerves a bit. At least for me. Here’s a woodcut I finished a few days ago showing a topographical view (or adaptation rather) of a small stretch of the Danube river, in the „young“ course of this waterway. There is mist along the shore, clinging to the trees and the embankment. Which gives the work its title: „Misty“.
It is part of the collection of woodcuts I am creating for Geberit.
And it kinda works. The sabbatical I mean. From Instagram. I am not really thinking about it and have managed to focus better on my upcoming exhibition in May. I have a strong concept now and need to work out how to present it. It will integrate the space, it will be radical, and is still a lot of work to complete until it opens in less than two months, but hey, everything else would be boring, right?
So glad you are here. And not somewhere else.
Just a little bit of background why I am currently not on Social Media. I haven’t been on Facebook since 2019, and now it is time for me to take a sabbatical from Instagram too.
- March 10, 2021 -
Hey. I need a break.
No worries, I’ll be back shortly, just need a personal moment, and we all know there is no way escaping this mess if the App on your phone stares at you and cries for attention like a baby. Hell, often it’s even quite fun being in this time-/energy-consuming and creativity-exploiting capitalistic trap we call „social“ media. But if there is one thing my day long #instagramtakeover of the @heliumcowboy account - which I took dead serious and worked passionately all day on - showed me, than it’s that I really should take some time off of it for real … like a vacation, or even a therapy you might say.
I know many people still see me as the gallerist who is great at marketing and business and shit and some won’t even accept that I am no longer that, probably also because heliumcowboy is still so close to me which weirdly enough is still frowned upon after at least a century of artist-run galleries. But I couldn’t even give a single fuck about this opinion, cos it’s only that - an opinion, subjective and prejudiced. What few might believe is that it is extremely exhausting and often hurtful to run full force against windmills for close to two decades, and that this I-got-it-all-covered-and-under-control person I can be is not there all the time. Most and foremost I have been an artist since I can think, and now that I managed to free myself from the business side and just want to embrace not being a dealer anymore, there are new barricades in the way that I first need to figure out how to kick to the ground.
What I am trying to say with all this is that a few things have reached and kind of attacked my, hmmm, more touchier side lately, and that I need to take better care and protect myself for the sake of creating the art that is still in me after all these miles I made on both sides of the art world for such a fucking long time.
I have to concentrate on some meaningful new pieces, find a strong direction for my next exhibition (May 8), get projects done that really matter, find another gallery that is seriously interested (and only that!) in working with me, continue to write my book (release moved to 2022) and dig deep into the restoration of our 260+ year old farmhouse. I have to keep my strength for what is really important right now and take a long, deep breath.
Don’t worry, I am all good. But I need some silence and peace for a bit.
You can always reach me, I have a phone number and a vintage but very active email-address (studio@alexdiamond.net), I have a great website (www.alexdiamond.net), so I am never really far. And most likely it’s only gonna be a few days, you won’t even notice.
Big hugs, stay vigilant and off your phone from time to time.
Jörg aka Alex-too-many-things-Diamond.
Einblick #3: Video from the artist talk at the digital opening
Here’s the full artist talk from my heliumcowboy-lockdown-exhibition „einblick“ Feb 26 - March 11.
I also did a 24-hour instagram-takeover of the heliumcowboy account - go check it out (in highlights and posts)
Enjoy!
einblick #3: special exhibition project
I am very excited to be part of Melvin’s new heliumcowboy-lockdown-exhibition-project „einblick“ - every week there is a new show with a different artist in the windows of the heliumcowboy gallery, starting Friday’s with a live-opening (Zoom & Facebook).
I freshly created 34 drawings for this exhibition, all very spontaneous but heartfelt explorations, all honest and blunt, some angry, some political, and some even vagely romantic.
This small video here is just a fast forward preview, the originals will be online Friday. Hope you can join Melvin and me for our talk live from the gallery, starting a 8:15 pm. Links in my profile here and of course over at heliumcowboy . Please spread the word, I love to see you all again, even though it is just through the wire!
Vernissage: Fr 26.02., 20.15 Uhr
https://zoom.us/j/95854608761
(Kenncode: einblick, Meeting-ID: 958 5460 8761)
little big Update (and Works on paper)
“LIfe Goals”, ink on paper, 29,7 x 21 cm (2021)
check availabiliy here
I have been asked recently why there is not more new work online this year. I guess a lot of people are assuming that as an artist there is not much to do these day but be in the studio and churn out new pieces.
Well. I doubt that is applicable to every artist. Definitely not to me. The whole lockdown situation with homeschooling is taking a major toll. And while I love nothing more than spending time with my young son, you don’t get any work done when trying to support your kid while school and politics are failing in doing a proper job in this crisis. I know, this is a bit too general as well, I am sure there are teachers out there giving everything to help their students. Not in our case though, sorry.
But that is only a part of the reason why I am not spending every workday in the studio. There is the issue of transitioning the gallery to my oldest son, Melvin. He is in tough spot as well, considering the difficult situation he is in with not being able to show art at the physical space in Hamburg. He now moved most of it to the online world, but I am currently building him new moveable walls so he can make exhibitions in the windows. He has an exciting plan for this, it is going to be good! However, being the carpenter and builder in our set up, I am working a lot in the wood-workshop now too (which I just optimized in the beginning of the year, it’s a beauty to work there now! It is not all bad ;))
Then there are a lot of (art) projects I am working on, for my partners at Geberit and the Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei for example, and also I have two bigger shows coming up this year, that need preparation. I still have to find a way to squeeze in my writing for the book, and yes, my farm in the countryside is another thing that needs a lot of attention this year, with some part of it in desperate need of repair and redevelopment. That house is very, very old.
I did not yet mention my podcast heliumTALK. But … well. That is an issue for a separate update, as I am not sure that it is really necessary any longer, with the digital overload of the times and new conversation platforms rising (such as Clubhouse for example). I need to think on that one a bit more.
I don’t need to get into the part of my life that is private, my family, my taking care of them and being the cook and handyman and loving father and such, and how I manage to get some hardcore fight workouts somewhere into this schedule, but let me just say this: I usually get up at 5. I dig into computer work right away with a cat and a coffee on my lap on the sofa, still in my pajamas. And after a looooong day I fall to sleep exactly five minutes after I go to bed, which can be anytime between 10:30 pm and way past midnight, depending on the workload …
The update about my art? I recently started one large work in my Hamburg studio. It is going to be big and it will take a few weeks to complete. And I also took out pens and paper again so I can do some drawings in between, because those are perfect for me to get into the zone when time is scarce.
If anything is available to acquire, it will be in the artwork section on heliumcowboy’s online portfolio here. Or just contact Melvin. I also updated this website with a lot of my current and earlier and vintage works on paper.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sane, stay radical and anti fascist and help those in need wherever it is possible for you. And keep in touch, I love hearing from you all.
Jörg aka Alex Diamond aka FvK ;)
Recent drawings
Exhibition: Roots
Exhibition view. To view the show: Click image.
My first exhibition this year is titled ROOTS and it is obviously different like everything else … I am showing at the Vinothek of long time friends and partners from Weingut Tesch, and while my artwork is really there it will be tricky (but not impossible) to see it live. But there’s an interactive 360 degree view of the show so you can experience it from your home office or couch or … check: weingut-tesch.de/roots . The exhibition is curated by Melvin / heliumcowboy.
I am really looking forward to the online opening on February 3rd (8:15 pm), I will be in my studio and Martin Tesch in the exhibition and we will talk (in German) about my work, you can hang out with us live on instagram, Facebook and YouTube. You can of course also purchase the art online.
Click to see the virtual tour.
If you didn’t know already, this vinery is very different from most others, Martin Tesch is very close with German Punk heroes Die Toten Hosen, producing their tour wines for a very long time now, and he is also the supplier of the official wine of the Wacken Festival. Martin is the Rockstar among winemakers and he is known to support progressive culture, like he is supporting heliumcowboy for close to a decade now.
With this exhibition he is bringing a few other partners that are all connected to the virtual table as well: there will be online tastings with Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei, whose label artist I am since 2014, and with Uerige Hausbrauerei from Düsseldorf, who are brewing collaboration beers with Kehrwieder and the Toten Hosen. There is a wine/beer package you can order for these tastings at the Tesch-website.
So, please support the arts, support the small manufacturers of beer and wine, and generally enjoy different cultural and sensory experiences while being in lock down.