Weinstein Gallery Announces Representation and Mid-Career Retrospective of Marcus Jansen
- Details
- Category: Art, Museums, Galleries
- Published on Wednesday, 18 October 2017 06:25
- Written by Janet Walker
Weinstein Gallery announces the representation of German-American artist Marcus Jansen and his retrospective MARCUS JANSEN: OBSCURE LINE BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION. The exhibition is the artist’s West Coast premiere curated with Brooke Lynn McGowan and surveys works from 2007-2017.
The collection comprises painting, multi-media, and sculpture and provides an emotive and insightful critique of the global political and sociological landscape and Americans’ alienations from their own dream.
The narratives of the retrospective illuminate Jansen’s time served in the US military, his early influences of graffiti and the tradition of landscape painting. MARCUS JANSEN: OBSCURE LINE BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION opens in advance of Jansen’s museum exhibitions at the Zitadelle (Berlin) and the Baker Museum (Naples, Florida).
Marcus Jansen, Obscure Line Between Fact and Fiction, oil enamel and mixed media on canvas, 88 x 135 inches, 2010
For the past 25 years the Weinstein Gallery has reinforced the legacy of significant artists of Surrealism from pre-war Europe through the birth of Abstract Expressionism. Referencing the rebellious spirit of post-war culture and its resulting art movements, the Weinstein Gallery has extended its curatorial vision to include contemporary artists who continue this resolve.
The representation of artist Marcus Jansen embodies the gallery’s intent and positions a new inquiry into the development of abstract expressionism. Jansen was discovered and mentored by former museum director (the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and art historian Jerome A. Donson, who dubbed him as the innovator of ‘modern urban expressionism’ and as reminiscent of the early 20th century Ashcan School of art. Dr. Manfred Schneckenburger, former Documenta curator, goes further, noting Jansen as “one of the most important American painters of his generation.”
Born in 1968, Jansen spent his youth between New York City and Monchengladbach, Germany, the child of a West Indian mother and a German father. Jansen’s practice was primarily influenced by the 1980s graffiti movement in America. He was drawn to the spirit of graffiti with those who valiantly rejected oppression through the actionA of marking space in paint.
Cast: Art and Objects Book Review – An Exhaustive Reference Manual For Artists, Scholars and Designers
His early career consisted of peddling his paintings on the sidewalks of Manhattan’s SoHo district. Yet it was his experience in Desert Storm as a U.S Army soldier and his subsequent diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder that defined his practice altering his mode of perception and manner of expression. Whether it be cyber surveillance, GMOs, the housing crisis or the techno-military-industrial complex, Jansen’s surreal canvases now confront the dystopia of conflict in the hope of finding understanding and inciting awareness and action.
Related Events
Documentary Film Screening of Examine & Report: Sun, Oct 22, 2–4 PM at 444 Clementina St.
A film by Emmy award-winning director John Scoular. Artist Marcus Jansen, a Desert Storm veteran, began selling his work on the corner of Prince St. and Broadway in New York City. Politically driven, Jansen has painted his way into an elitist industry and now shows his work in museums around the globe. A Q&A with the artist will follow the film screening.
Artist Book/Poster signing & reception: Sun, Oct 22, 5–7PM at Geary Art Project at 349 Geary St.
The books DECADE (published by Skira Editore, Italy) and AFTERMATH (published by Hirmer Verlag, Munich) will be available, as well as the film poster for Examine & Report.
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art Unveils Artist Projects and Programming for Part 1 of Be Not Still: Living in Uncertain Times
MARCUS JANSEN: Dec 15, 2017 - Jan 20, 2018 at Geary Art Project at 349 Geary St.
Exhibition hours: Thursday—Saturday, 10AM—6PM and Sunday—Monday by appointment
A continuation of MARCUS JANSEN: OBSCURE LINE BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION relocated to the Geary Art Project as a part of the Weinstein Gallery’s 25th anniversary celebration.
About the artist:
Marcus Jansen was raised between New York City and Moenchengladbach, Germany, where he studied briefly at the Kunstgewerbe Schule, Berufsfachschule fuer Gestaltung and completed a three-year apprenticeship as a commercial house painter (Maler), during which he was first introduced to his current medium of choice, oil enamels. He joined the U.S. Armed Forces in 1989 and was immediately sent to Desert Storm. After his military discharge, Jansen was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. He started selling paintings on the streets of New York between Prince Street and Broadway as part of the group “Prince Street Kings,” transforming to a professional painter.
Jansen's first major book, Marcus Jansen DECADE, was published by the leading art book producer, Skira Editore, Italy. The book features a foreword by revolutionary London art dealer and Jansen's agent, Steve Lazarides. His most recent book, Marcus Jansen AFTERMATH, published by Hirmer Verlag, Munich, features text by Prof. Dr. Manfred Schneckenburger; Germany’s senior art critic at the Suddeutsche Zeitung, Dr. Gottfried Knapp; and a foreword by art historian Dr. Dieter Ronte, the former museum director of the Kunstmuseum in Bonn. Jansen was most recently spotlighted in an award-winning documentary film, Marcus Jansen: Examine & Report, a film by Emmy award-winning filmmaker, John Scoular.
About Weinstein Gallery:
Weinstein Gallery was established in 1992 and specializes in non-objective and Surrealist art from pre-war Europe through the New York School and Abstract Expressionism. The gallery represents the estates of Enrico Donati, Gerome Kamrowski, and David Hare, as well as Rudolf Bauer and Hassel Smith. Additionally, the gallery is recognized for its collection and commitment to the women of the Surrealist movement with an extensive collection of Leonor Fini and signature works by Leonora Carrington, Kay Sage, Stella Snead, Juanita Guccione, and Dorothea Tanning. The Surrealism collection includes major works by Yves Tanguy, Max Ernst, Roberto Matta, Oscar Domínguez, Gordon Onslow Ford, Wolfgang Paalen, and Kurt Seligmann. www.weinstein.com
Exhibition Dates: October 21 - November 24, 2017
Vernissage with artist in attendance: Saturday, Oct 21, 6- 8 PM
Exhibition Hours: Thursday—Saturday | 10AM—5PM
444 Clementina Street, San Francisco, CA |http://www.weinstein.com
Marcus Jansen: Obscure Line Between Fact And Fiction
October 21 - November 24, 2017
