Even though I am seeing myself as a political person and an artist with a voice I am not sure that I need to comment on the insane election result in the USA. It’s not my country. Am I super disappointed? Sure. We can only hope there are enough people with some sense around in the next government so that our world doesn’t go spiraling down the fascist abyss even more. It will also be our task here in Germany to avoid this in our own country come next year’s elections.
There’s work to do.
My retrospective “Unwrapped - the Alex Diamond Archives” opened Thursday, Sept 26. All work was online available via Silent Auction - at the MEGA contemporary site .
Just quickly - it was ahuge sucess. Thank you all who supported this!
„Unwrapped - The Diamond Archives“, was a Retrospective with work by Alex Diamond from 1998 – 2022!
In this unconventional exhibition, all artwork was offered in a Silent Auction, breaking with the rigid art market rules (Punk’s not dead after all 👊) and starting with minimum bids well below the original prices. You could place your bid secretly on-site and online. At the end of the exhibition, Melvin informed all bidders if their bid was high enough and successful.
I am waiving my share of the auction proceeds so Melvin can invest the entire amount in his own gallery, MEGA Contemporary. Crowdfunding with a twist! By participating in the Silent Auction, you were not only doing something good for your walls at home, but you were also helping to establish a new and young art destination in Hamburg.
Save the date(s) in your calendar! This one will be special. Here’s the official text from Melvin:
It’s going to be emotional: The final joint exhibition of the father-son duo Melvin and Jörg Heikhaus is approaching. “UNWRAPPED: The Diamond Archives” will be a retrospective of a special kind. After more than eight years of intensive collaboration at heliumcowboy, we have decided that Alex Diamond will not be represented by MEGA Contemporary—but before that, I would like to take one last look back at the impressive history of this extraordinary artist with you.
Jörg handed me the keys to his personal archive—a fascinating collection of works from the last 20 years. These are true treasures that showcase the transformation and evolution of Alex Diamond in all its facets. From his very early paintings, drawings, and collages to the first originals and prints with and on wood, to his iconic wood images that have now become his trademark—there is so much to discover and revisit. As I first browsed through the collection, memories of the legendary exhibitions at the heliumcowboy artspace on Sternstraße immediately came back—the beginning of a brilliant era as an artist and gallerist.
Look forward to absolute highlights from two decades of artistic work at the limit! The exhibition will take place in our headquarters at Bäckerbreitergang 75. There couldn’t be a better place for this special show, and I look forward to filling the walls from top to bottom with the art of Alex Diamond.
To ensure that these treasures also find their way into your collection, they will be auctioned off in a Silent Auction. For this special retrospective, we are breaking the rigid art market rules and starting with minimum bids well below the original prices. You can place your bids secretly on-site and online. At the end of the exhibition (after two weeks), we will inform you of the results.
What’s particularly MEGA: Jörg is waiving his share of the auction proceeds and is investing the entire amount in the reorientation of my gallery MEGA Contemporary. Crowdfunding with a twist! By participating in the Silent Auction, you are not only doing something good for your walls at home, but you are also helping me establish a new art venue in Hamburg during these challenging times.
We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful, emotional exhibition where we can indulge together in the beautiful memories of an impressive artistic career that is now embarking on new paths.
Opening Reception:
Thursday, September 26, 6–10 pm
Weekend Views with Coffee & Cake:
Saturday and Sunday, September 28 & 29, 4–7 pm
Exhibition runs until October 11.
Visiting hours will be posted on Instagram, or you can schedule an appointment: info@me-ga.art
"Alex Diamond and the Demoncatchers", ARTotale Lüneburg, 2009.
I just released a new book, and so it takes total sense that my new shop is online! If you are interested in my latest publications, please go shopping here!
Currently there are only three products: all my still available exhibition catalogues or books from my last three solo shows:
My new book is a documentation of my last solo exhibition „They all must be slaughtered“, which was my final show with heliumcobwoy that took place at TheMISSION in Hamburg (now MEGA contemporary).
Due to a sweet little error on the cover, every book comes individually embellished (signed) on the front (surprise!).
52 pages, 24 x 17 cm.
Limited to 150, signed and numbered.
12 € plus shipping
Let me know if you would like me to write a special dedication
Rare and limited Edition Book about “It’s all good.”, my largest solo exhibition to date, that took place at Barlach Halle K. in Hamburg, 2022.
Limited to 50 (!) copies, numbered and signed and with individually painted & hand printed cover by me (and Lucy!).
152 full color pages, 24 x 17 cm.
55 €
Catalogue released on the occasion of the triple-header-exhibition “in other words: <_blank>” at the heliumcowboy gallery, June – August 2021, featuring individual presentations of the work of Boris Hoppek, Jens Rausch and Alex Diamond.
“In other words: <_blank>” was the first exhibition by the gallery in Hamburg to open its doors to visitors in June 2021, following several lockdowns and three postponements. It was conceptualized the year before – already in the face of the difficult situation that has changed all of our lives and has also posed a major challenge to the creative industry.
Three cataloges were published, one for each artist, focusing on their part of this exhibition.
This is the catalogue about my contribution to the show, consisting of the special installation “F.T.S.” (Fuck this Shit).
60 pages, 23,5 x 18 cm
Photography: Julia Schwendner
Art Direction: Fabian Wolf
12 €
I will be travelling to Copenhagen end of the week to take part in the ENTER Art Fair. I am represented by Galerie Bludin Berisha and will show 40 new works on paper. I am very exciting and hope to see you there, if you are in town or can make it!
More details:
Enter Art Fair 29th August – 1st September 2024
Opening hours:
Thursday August 29th:
First Choice Preview: 13.00 – 15.00 (By invitation only)
VIP Preview: 15.00 – 20.00 (by invitation only)
Friday August 30th: 11.00 – 20.00
Saturday August 31st: 11.00 – 19.00
Sunday September 1st: 11.00 – 18.00
Archiving my drawings 1 to 490 *.
I always said as soon as I reach 500 drawings I will release them as a book. Ideally in a high-end Manga-like jewel of a publication. And now I will: together with the amazing people from Gudberg Nerger.
Click image to download most current drawing overview. Status: 08.07.24
Almost there. Ten drawings to go. You just wait and see ;)
PS: If you are in Copenhagen end of August: Galerie Bludin Berisha will show a bunch of these works at their booth at ENTER art fair . Summer only just begun …
And yes, please continue buying the drawings as they in the end will most likely finance the book.
* why the asterisk? Ah yes, cos I wanted to let you know that many of the drawings I am archiving here are only printouts - from the ones sold. If you want to know which ones are available: drop me a mail, or download the PDF here.
GONAKADET (2024)
Woodcut, acrylic paint, 63 x 53 x 4 cm
The Gonakadet, commonly referred to as the Sea-Wolf, is a mythical creature in the Tlingit tradition of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Simultaneously strong, generous and humble, the Sea-Wolf was said to bring great luck and wealth to anyone fortunate enough to spy it, or hear its soulful howl.
Gonakadet is said to be inspired by the Vancouver coastal sea wolves, which are found in the Great Bear Rainforest and in northern Vancouver Island.
This work was specifically created for the exhibition ULVEN+ at Galerie Wolfsen, Aalborg. Opening of the exhibition is Saturday, June 22. It is also the celebration of the 60’s birthday of gallery founder Kent Wolfsen. A great gallerist always has some Gonakadet in her/him - Kent for sure does.
PS: Sound samples used in the video above are from Pigeon Hole’s „Wolf Pack“ and „The Island of the Sea Wolves“, spoken by Will Arnett
„They all must be slaughtered“ was my last show at heliumcowboy.
This was not an easy decision, especially since I enjoyed working so closely with Melvin, but we both have the feeling that my connection to heliumcowboy has become an obstacle not easily overcome and therefore is counterproductive for Melvin and his progression as an independent gallerist.
Remember: I handed the keys and all responsibility over to (my son) Melvin in 2020, when I wanted to close heliumcowboy for good. There were several reasons, but the main one was that I did not want to be „also-a-gallerist“ one minute longer.
Here is some background:
heliumcowboy was never meant to be such a big venture when it started. It all began in my tiny art studio in St. Pauli with first exhibitions of other talent in 2002.
But then it became so incredibly successful in a very short time and turned into one of the most influential galleries of the first decade of the 2000’s. Crazy! I had an amazing team and we did good work here on the Ranch (and around the world) - it was a lot of fun!
Already back then though I had plans to pass the captaincy of heliumcowboy on to my manager Isabel, but the financial crisis hit us hard and made this impossible. So I continued for another ten years in which I juggled both, working on my own art and representing international artists, exhibiting them in the new space in Hamburg and on art fairs abroad etc. At a reduced pace, yes, but still. Tough work, that became more and more difficult to combine with my own art practice.
I was relieved when I mentioned my exit plan to Melvin four years ago and he immediately embraced the opportunity to become the sole and independent curator and gallerist of heliumcowboy.
He had already worked several years at the gallery, first as an assistant and since 2019 as its manager. He was and still is the right (and most likely only) choice to take this place over.
However … no matter how small my influence and presence may have been in reality these past years, and no matter how autonomous Melvin runs this place - we both feel he needs more space.
Believe me, figuring this out was a painful process.
But I get it. I do.
The bitter truth is hard to grasp sometimes, that is why it took me so long to make this decision to permanently walk away from heliumcowboy. Melvin will of course continue to do his great work, he also has some plans that will change his … scenario even more.
But it is not my place to tell you about it. You’ll see and hear more from him soon enough...
Don’t worry about me (if you do at all), I have things to look forward to in the future, there is already a project with another gallery from Hamburg under way (more soon), I have shows in Denmark and the US on the horizon, there are talks with new galleries and most of all: I will never stop doing my art. There is no alternative.
Being an artist also means being free from most restraints of other professions, and maybe I just got a bit more freedom back now.
So, yeah:
It’s all good.
And I’ll see you around.
P.S.:The history of heliumcowboy is well documented here: heliumcowboy.com/past-shows
It has been a wonderful couple of weeks (months really ;)) since my latest exhibition ”They all must be slaughtered” was opened in December 2023. Now it all comes to an end:
Please celebrate with me the Finissage of this very special show
on Thursday, February 29, from 5 - 9 pm
at The MISSION by heliumcowboy
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 87, 20355 Hamburg.
Apart from this event, you can visit Wednesdays - Fridays 2 – 6 pm.
Below are some new images from the new works we released last week during the exhibition. And for all the imformation about the show - continue to read here!
Ok. Got four minutes and your speakers on? Above is a walkthrough of my new exhibition, including sound. You really should watch till the end (surprise awaits). This is how my new show „They all must be slaughtered“ is presented at The MISSION by heliumcowboy.
The song „They all must be slaughtered“ by the Melvins runs on constant repeat (from Vinyl), and together with the light setting it creates the unique, dark and apocalyptic athmosphere I wanted for this exhibition, which is more like a play on a stage than just a show of artworks.
Continue reading (and view more images from the exhibition and the opening)
Exhibition until March 2, 2024
Open wednesdays - fridays 14 – 18 h
Exhibition Location:
The MISSION by heliumcowboy
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße 87, Hamburg
I will have one more solo exhibition this year.
Opening December 8. at TheMISSION by heliumcowboy in Hamburg
Storm (2023)
Carved wood, acrylic paint
30 x 50 x 3 cm
This year will be a lot about waves and the forces of nature with me.
“What becomes of the brokenhearted”
50 x 30 x 3 cm
Carved wood, acrylic paint
May 2023
Be patient, this video is a bit longer. BUT ☝️:
this is the Work In Progress-(also know as „Jörg in Progress“) Video from me working on this massive woodcut (only the carving part). Like one week of sharp blades in 3 minutes. I hope you make it through.
Also: I recorded this cover of Townes van Zandt’s „Colorado Girl“ back in summer 2020 outdoors on the porch of our country house in the North, so you may be hearing some birds singing along. Play it loud, as all music should be.
Take some time out, and enjoy.
First work of the year is always something special:
Seen through the waves (January 2023)
Woodcut, acrylic paint, 40 x 50 x 3 cm
check availabilty sold
Tiny bit of the WIP. More on my Instagram
THIS IS ALL I CAME TO DO, 2022
Acrylic paint, oil pastels, indian ink, ripped fabric and modelling paste on canvas, in artist frame. 153 x 123 cm | check availability
Here are some impressions from my new work „This is all I came to do“ currently in the Exhibition “Back to the Future“ at the heliumcowboy gallery.
The exhibition is open until January 27, 2023.
Opening hours: Wednesdays to Fridays 3-6 pm
Artwork Detail:
THIS IS ALL I CAME TO DO, 2022
Acrylic paint, oil pastels, indian ink, ripped fabric and modelling paste on canvas, in artist frame. 153 x 123 cm
check availability
Artists of the exhibition:
Anne Athena Jon Burgerman, Victor Castillo, Alex Diamond, Boris Hoppek, Christophe Lambert, Susannah Martin, Jens Rausch, David Shillinglaw, Julia Soboleva, Jon Todd, Nicola Watson, Fabian Wolf, Mara Yuki | more info
EXHIBITION VIEWS:
DETAILS:
