CHARLIE SMITH LONDON to present the much-anticipated Florian Heinke solo exhibition at OHSH Projects, New Oxford Street, central London next week.
Heinke is known for his darkly mythological paintings that are rendered only in black oil paint. His unique position is one of an outsider, who critiques society and longs for a better reality. Heinke presents familiar worlds in which the relationships of their inhabitants, emotional conflicts, trauma and hope are paramount. His aesthetics are based on the beauty ideals of our time, but charged with explosive content that can be provocative, comforting, aggressive, seductive or disturbing. As Heinke states:
My paintings were always a straight critique of systems and society. And it still is. They broach the issue of feelings, problems, reasons and circumstances behind social and economic concerns. I think the only decent and sustainable way to criticise something is to plant bombs right in the heart of it.
Indeed, Heinke approaches life and art with a sense of urgency, but also yearning. He moves away from a broken past and towards an unknown future. This notion of movement characterises his current work, where witches, hybrids, wise animals and demons join together to seek refuge. His subjects are empowered, often depicting women amongst familiars who demonstrate authority and autonomy. Heinke’s archetypes operate, therefore, as both personal and political ciphers.
Suitably, the exhibition will take place for one night and one day only. It is fleeting and urgent.
Charlie Smith London presents Florian Heinke, Paradise Overdosed: Exodus, Private View Wednesday 15th February 6:00-8:30pm the exhibition then continues Thursday 16th February 2023 11:00am-6:00pm, OHSH Projects, 106 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1HB
About the artist
Florian Heinke graduated from the Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main in 2009. He has exhibited globally including Saatchi Gallery, London; Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles; Galerie Römerapotheke, Zurich; Goethe Institute, Johannesburg; & Kunstverein, Frankfurt am Main. His work is placed in prominent private collections including Hugo & Carla Brown, Den Haag; Stanley Hollander, Los Angeles; and Susan & Michael Hort, New York.
