Over his career Pop Art artist, Heiner Meyer, has captured the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century consumer culture through images of cinema, fashion, TV, luxury cars and elite sports. Meyer’s sculptures and paintings often focus on the feminine beauty culture, employing bright colors his work often satirises well-known and celebrity subjects.
Contemporary artist Heiner Meyer (1953-) is the only German Pop Art artist. An exhibition High Gloss at the Gerhardt Braun Gallery in Palma features many of Meyer’s works of the last few years. The artist worked as Salvador Dalí’s studio assistant in Cadaqués, Spain before studying at the University of Fine Arts in Braunschweig. Dali’s influence is evident in the light of Surrealist works like the Mae West Lips Sofa created in Schaparielli lipstick red in collaboration with the wealthy philanthropist, designer Edward James.
Meyer employs the bright colors used in advertising and a wry sense of humor in his work. The artist translates the consumer psyche through a juxtaposition of images, often those associated with luxury brands. For instance, paintings in the exhibition featuring the world of sports include Goodwood Festival of Speed and Polo. Pop Art emerged in the mid- to late-1950s and presented a challenge to traditions of fine art through imagery from popular and mass culture; advertising, comic books and mass produced objects such as Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans. Meyer’s work viewed from a 21st Century perspective reflects a world where we are now saturated with marketing images practically 24/7. Instagram, for instance, is overloaded with Ads for everything from dog food to designer jewelery and luxury fashion to toilet paper.
Meyer’s first solo exhibition was at the age of 19. His work has since featured in 250 exhibitions from San Francisco to Beijing. The artist incorporates logos, pictorial themes, Greek sculptures, celebrity images, quotes and more, layered to produce themes of popularity and consumption of merchandise. One of two large sculptures focussing on the theme of Chanel No. 5, created in 2014 in co-operation with Chanel and Tush magazine, is included in the exhibition.
Meyer’s works are particularly popular in the American market from the Hamptons to Miami, and Los Angeles.
Miami Blue by Heiner Meyer. Image courtesy Gerhardt Braun Gallery.
Previously, Meyer has exhibited with Andy Warhol, Rauschenberg and Lichtenstein. Warhol’s influence is evident in some of the pieces on display in High Gloss.
Visit
The Gerhardt Braun Gallery has five exhibition spaces in Palma, and Puerto Andratx in the extreme south west corner of the island. From the latter you can venture down into the fishing port or head north into the mountains towards Deià. The Palma gallery is located in the old city. The juxtaposition of the heritage architectural details and the contemporary art is in itself highly attractive. Think of the energy produced by say the glass Pyramid set alongside the Louvre Palace in Paris. The solo exhibitions here change every two months.
High Gloss at the Gerhardt Braun Gallery Art Palace, Calle Sant Feliu 10, 07012 Palma de Mallorca runs until 30 June 2021. Exhibition dates generally are subject to change depending upon the pandemic situaton so check the web site before planning a visit. https://gb-gallery.es
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