Starting March 27th, we will be showcasing an exhibition featuring works by case (ma´claim) titled "Familiar Stranger"
Born in East Germany in 1979, case is a member of the graffiti crew MA`CLAIM, notorious for its photorealistic spray technique, consisting of AKUT, the male part of the artist duo HERAKUT, RUSK, and TASSO. Together in this combination, case quickly rose to become a style-setting pioneer of photorealism in the international graffiti scene.
The 30-year-old has been working with spray cans for over 16 years, but in recent years, he began to create, exhibit, and sell his own works more and more. What started on streets, abandoned buildings, and various walls, has expanded into imagery that can now be seen in galleries. case, a trained restorer who now lives and works in Frankfurt am Main, focuses on several key aspects in his works. On one hand, there is the detailed portrayal of people, who appear overly made-up, "slippery," and smooth as an eel. The content and preparation of the images are done in collaboration with his wife, who stages and photographs the models. The stark contrast to the clean and grotesquely beautiful is taken up by the background. These are sometimes randomly or mosaic-like arranged small cardboard fragments, mainly originating from the packaging of the paint cans. They are attached to a wooden base using glue, adhesive tape, and staples. The resulting surface structure symbolically represents uneven conditions as found only on walls. Ultimately, the finished picture possesses its own unique charm due to the detailed depiction and the morbid texture of the background, which – like a fingerprint – is unique for each work.
All current pictures can be seen at www.sexyartcase.com.case: Familiar Stranger
March 27th - April 20th
Opening Reception March 27th, 7 PM
DJ Buckel