The artist AL is an autodidact and has been artistically active for more than 25 years. Having grown up in the Frankfurt milieu, rebellion against the existing social system and against injustice has shaped his life early on, and thereafter his art. His art book DENKSTAHL. art of a rebellious mind presents those pieces of his work that are as strong in words as they are in pictures. The biographical book includes poetry, prose texts, and more than 160 pictures, that are assumingly aimed to »disillusion« you.
DIGITAL ART meets STREET ART – Inspired by the contemporary trend of street art and the possibilities of the digital art form, AL created his Digit-AL Streetart. Virtual presence has increasingly played a role in urban art and the conquest of public space. Especially among the newbies of the street art scene, a photograph of the work is just as important as the original on the street. These photos on the net are conquering the digital public space in the same way. While the real images are weathered and tend to disappear over time, the digital clone endures in virtual space.
First Contact by DENKSTAHL
AL‘s works are thematically concerned with confronting the »illusory world«. He irritates, reflects, provokes, in order to repeatedly question all that exists in terms of meaning and justification. He loves to play with words as well as with colors; alienating and distorting the meaning of common symbols. The message within the texts and images go beyond socially critical and ethical contents, and not only address questions of humanity, but also the sense and self-fulfillment within a superficial and consumer-oriented world. AL‘s statements are deep and tough, and for some people they may have a deterrent effect.
All Trash by DENKSTAHL
Hard Time by DENKSTAHL
REBELLIOUS ART
URBAN ART
TRIBUTE TO
NATURAL BORN
HEADS – WARPAINTING
HEADS – STARS
End Of War by DENKSTAHL
AL is not a classic street art activist, although some of his motifs may be found on the street as slogans, stencils or stickers. Most of his pictures are digital, some of them are available in limited editions as silk screen prints or as unique high-gloss prints. His art also shows similarities with the approaches of culture jamming, which is a peripheral phenomenon aside the street art subculture.
It is about playfully reversing the signification of signs and symbols within the prevailing system as well as the use of the media for a creative attack. Elements of his art can also be found in the Dadaism movement, which had originally emerged from an anti-art movement against conventional art forms. Like the Dadaists, AL is mainly concerned about revolt, and about absolute doubt – about the destruction of unreflected norms and ideologies in the broadest sense.
Despite recognizable influences, AL is free from any restrictions of being classified within an art movement, since his art simply happens unintentionally. It was also never his intention to sell any of his works. Since neither his vita nor his art correspond to the usual habitus of the art world, his friend Ilknur Özen has enabled him to publish his life‘s work in pictures and words without any restrictions whatsoever. The DENKSTAHL EDITION is self-financed and has been created as a matter of heart, purely for art and philosophy.
Mr Cool by DENKSTAHL
Wounded Mc by DENKSTAHL
The pictures presented in our art blog are purchasable as DENKSTAHL UNIQUE PIECES, if they are still available.
A DENKSTAHL UNIQUE PIECE is a high-gloss print with pigmented ink on high-quality photo paper, laminated behind acrylic glass and reinforced by an aluminum back. Each unique piece is stamped with an artist’s stamp. For each artwork you will receive a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist and the biographical art book DENKSTAHL. art of a rebellious mind, which will be dedicated to you.
If you are interested in an artwork, please send us your inquiry via e-mail to denkstahl@vollherzig.de. You can also send us your request via a WhatsApp message to +49 1772851804.
REBELLIOUS ART
URBAN ART
TRIBUTE TO
NATURAL BORN
HEADS – WARPAINTING