Cabinet Pieces: Jonathan Meese.

TOTAL WORK OF ART “ERZBUCH”! (BOOK OF BOOKS)

15/11/2025 – 06/04/2026

The book as a medium plays a central role in the complete body of work of the artist Jonathan Meese. The first artist books were already created at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg. It was at the HFBK that Meese began writing and performing his own texts. These readings evolved into his initial performances. Meese’s serial approach later produced a wealth of material, which he presented in the form of installations, portfolios, books, and booklets.

After his time at art school ended, both the formats and often the materials of the artist books changed. In large collage books and folios, friends and figures from the art world were combined with historical figures, philosophers, or the heroes from pulp novels. The stylistic elements of the artist books were also adapted for the creation of special editions and exhibition catalogues.

For the first time, an extensive selection of the artist books is exhibited at the Wilhelm-Hack Museum. Accompanying the exhibition, the annotated catalog raisonné of Jonathan Meese’s books from 1993 to 2025 will be published by the Walther und Franz König publishing house.

Curators: Dr. Robert Eikmeyer, Dr. Astrid Ihle