Ralf Metzenmacher
Encyclopedia
Ralf Metzenmacher is a German
painter
and designer
. He is a representative and pioneer of Retro-Art, a synthesis between art and product design. Metzenmacher sees his Retro-Art technique as a revitalization of 17th century still life
painting and as a further development of Pop art
.
. He attended Aachen University of Applied Sciences (FH Aachen) from 1986 to 1991. There he studied object- and product design under Prof. Christiane Maether and Prof. Ulf Hegewald, specializing in painting technique and drawing. Between 1991 and 2004 he worked as a designer for Puma
. As director, towards the end of his time there he was responsible for the Footwear Europe and Accessories International division. He played a significant role in the process of transforming the sports manufacturers into an international Sports-Lifestyle brand.
From the early 80s onwards, Metzenmacher spent more and more of his time concentrating on painting technique. He produced a multitude of paintings (genre scenes and still life
s) during his degree and alongside his job as designer. These are all documented in his book “The other world” (self-published). He has worked as a freelance artist since 2004 and lives and works in Bamberg
.
world and to establish its position in the art market.
’s work. However, Metzenmacher does not see himself as a surrealist
, more as a modern ambassador for the classical still life painting technique. The works and painting techniques of Spanish artist Francisco Zurbarán
have had a lasting influence on him, as have the still life paintings of Italian artist Giorgio Morandi
.
Retro-Art painting technique is effectively a “revitalisation” of 17th century still life painting technique. As a result, Metzenmacher predominately paints modern still life paintings. Depending on the particular theme, he selects simple objects in daily use (e.g. cigars, punching bags, cars) and portrays them in an unusual way. He also uses familiar symbols from the history of art (e.g. mussels, snails), often modifying or distorting them.
Picture cycles from Ralf Metzenmacher
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
. He is a representative and pioneer of Retro-Art, a synthesis between art and product design. Metzenmacher sees his Retro-Art technique as a revitalization of 17th century still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
painting and as a further development of Pop art
Pop art
Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in the late 1950s in the United States. Pop art challenged tradition by asserting that an artist's use of the mass-produced visual commodities of popular culture is contiguous with the perspective of fine art...
.
Biography
Metzenmacher was born in AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. He attended Aachen University of Applied Sciences (FH Aachen) from 1986 to 1991. There he studied object- and product design under Prof. Christiane Maether and Prof. Ulf Hegewald, specializing in painting technique and drawing. Between 1991 and 2004 he worked as a designer for Puma
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
. As director, towards the end of his time there he was responsible for the Footwear Europe and Accessories International division. He played a significant role in the process of transforming the sports manufacturers into an international Sports-Lifestyle brand.
From the early 80s onwards, Metzenmacher spent more and more of his time concentrating on painting technique. He produced a multitude of paintings (genre scenes and still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
s) during his degree and alongside his job as designer. These are all documented in his book “The other world” (self-published). He has worked as a freelance artist since 2004 and lives and works in Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
.
Concepts
The artist Ralf Metzenmacher uses his painting technique to polarize and surprise through the regeneration of numerous concepts. He describes himself as a “paintbrush artist” and refers to his exhibition rooms as “schooruum”, an onomatopoeic reference to the English word “showroom”. He propagates the term “Retro-Art” to describe his own painting technique. As self-proclaimed “pioneer” in this area, his aim is to successfully integrate this synthesis of art and design into the Fine artFine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
world and to establish its position in the art market.
- The term “retroRetroRetro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
” or “retro-aesthetic” became popular in the mass culture of the nineties, rather than through any art connection. As a movement that has penetrated film, fashion, music and custom design to a similar extent, retro has become a specific expression of a cultural orientation - the spirit of the times in the last decade of the twentieth century.
“Further development” of Pop art
Retro-art painting technique is reminiscent of Pop art, with intensive strong colours and a reduction and simplification in its presentation. However, whilst Pop art links art with graphics, Retro-Art combines art with product design. “Classic” Pop art generally uses two dimensional images from comics or advertisements to depict (American) symbols as icons of folk culture. In contrast, Retro-Art uses three dimensional representations and adopts a critical standpoint on current issues and trends in youth culture and lifestyle.“Revitalisation” of still life painting technique
Some of Metzenmacher’s pictures (e.g. “The Crown”) feature surreal elements, reminiscent of Salvador DalíSalvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
’s work. However, Metzenmacher does not see himself as a surrealist
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
, more as a modern ambassador for the classical still life painting technique. The works and painting techniques of Spanish artist Francisco Zurbarán
Francisco Zurbarán
Francisco de Zurbarán was a Spanish painter. He is known primarily for his religious paintings depicting monks, nuns, and martyrs, and for his still-lifes...
have had a lasting influence on him, as have the still life paintings of Italian artist Giorgio Morandi
Giorgio Morandi
Giorgio Morandi was an Italian painter and printmaker who specialized in still life. His paintings are noted for their tonal subtlety in depicting apparently simple subjects, which were limited mainly to vases, bottles, bowls, flowers, and landscapes.-Biography:Giorgio Morandi was born in Bologna...
.
Retro-Art painting technique is effectively a “revitalisation” of 17th century still life painting technique. As a result, Metzenmacher predominately paints modern still life paintings. Depending on the particular theme, he selects simple objects in daily use (e.g. cigars, punching bags, cars) and portrays them in an unusual way. He also uses familiar symbols from the history of art (e.g. mussels, snails), often modifying or distorting them.
- Individual objects are portrayed with a disciplined graphical precision. They are separated from their usual surroundings either to stand alone, or to be presented in an artistically engineered context surrounded by ethereal space. The luminescent contrasting colours distort the materiality of the objects and confound the viewer. Frames in the style of those from times gone by form an essential part of each picture.
Target group and collections
His painting technique appeals primarily to a young and young at heart public whose interests lie in fashion, design and lifestyle products. As a result, Metzenmacher with his history in product design has added “collections” to go with each original. These collections are printed art pieces which differ in colour, size and fittings (frames). This idea of different collections came from the fashion industry and has been transferred to the world of art by Metzenmacher. He calls his collections “edition” and “rallipan”.Picture cycles
Metzenmacher prefers to paint picture cycles. For example, in the cycle “The Crowning of Creation” he portrays primary and secondary female characteristics in a thought provoking manner using snails, mussels and melons. Titles for his work include such idiosyncratic examples as “The Cherry Rose” and the “The Melon Princess”. In the cycle “The Lord of the Crown” he uses sports cars and a smoldering cigar with a penis ring as a symbol of masculinity.Picture cycles from Ralf Metzenmacher
- Tales from 1001 Nights (1988–89)
- Subject matter: Tales from 1001 nights
- Quantity: 17 paintings, various drawings – sketch book
- Rallipan (1989–2004)
- Subject matter: Self portraits
- Quantity: 9 paintings, several drawings – sketch book
- Objects come into the picture (1991)
- Subject matter: Does still-life painting still make sense today? A pictorial investigation.
- Quantity: 43 paintings, 30 drawings
- Beach of my Dreams (2003)
- Subject matter: Human egoism and improvidence
- Quantity: 14 paintings, various drawings – sketch book
- The Crowning of Creation (2004–05)
- Subject matter: Femininity
- Quantity: 22 paintings, various drawings – sketch book
- The Lord of the Crown (2006, work in progress)
- Subject matter: Masculinity
- Quantity: 9 paintings, various drawings – sketch book
Painting technique and materials
- A glazing technique comprising layer upon layer of translucent and opaque paint, based on 17th century methods.
- Undercoat of acrylic and emulsion paint, which contrasts the smooth oil surface with the characteristic style of the top coat brush strokes.
- Oils on primed canvas.
- Stretcher frames in sizes appropriate to the theme.
Solo exhibitions
- Kunstmeile Kohlenhof, Bamberg, La Trecera – does still life painting still make sense today?, 23 July – 24 August 2004
- Sparkasse Bamberg, The Crowning of Creation, 6 February – 3 March 2006
- 11th Bamberg Art & Antiquities week 2006, schooruum, Obere Sandstr. 2, 21 July – 21 August 2006
- Kirstin Ellen Vietze Stylist & Beautician GmbH, Friedrichstr. 82, Berlin, 7 September – 10 December 2006
Group exhibitions
- Humanity and nature in accord – Tales of art, Giechburg, September to October 2005
- CURRICULUM ARTE. Christiane Maether and her students – the Aachen years 1982–2006, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, 20 May – 23 July 2006