The series HEADS by AL reinvents portraiture with political, religious and historical content. AL’s digital collages are rich in well-known symbols and new-modern logos. With his pictures, AL tells his own version of the story. Well-known personalities put their necks on the line in a dignified way.

The stars of our world are not only famous musicians, athletes, politicians, clerics, artists and thinkers, but also Burger King, McDonald‘s, Starbucks, Shell, Apple, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Mercedes, Smith & Wesson, Google, Facebook, Twitter etc. The stars of our time include certain nation states; their most meaningful symbol is the inviolable national flag. The way that AL portrays these personas, these global players, in his graphics, are convincingly critical. The expressive heads (originally photographs) are presented in bright colors, and they are transferred into another context of meaning, in a beautiful colorful illusory world. This beautiful colorful illusory world shatters when taking a closer look at the multi-layered portraits. The symbolic language of AL is very strong. A considerable part of the statement are his picture titles.

We Don’t Love It is the portrait of Chief Joseph, whose face is painted with the red and yellow logo of the famous fast food chain. »We do not love it« is the chief‘s response to the well-known slogan »I‘m lovin‘ it«.

Valley Of Tears is the name of a Native American woman. Her face is painted with the logo of the largest handgun manufacturer in North America. »Valley of Tears« is an allusion to the Silicon Valley in California – a location that is considered the world‘s most powerful in terms of IT and high-tech industry.

Short Message is the name of Chief Child, whose face is painted with the bird symbol of a famous short message service. The man surrounded by stars has red-painted lips and his eyes are bloodthirsty. In this context, the red stands for war and for the bloodshed. The »short message« of the digitally painted Native American is clear.

The portraits of AL involuntarily raise the topic of identity, belonging and demarcation. But the terms »Indian« or »white man« are wrong, because they are imposed by »outside« and the »other«. The Native Americans do not call themselves Indians. Consequently, in the series War-Paintings, the artist is not concerned with »the Indians«, but with the identification of certain power structures.

At the same time, AL’s critical contemplation of our cultural history and the present situation is a statement about our world and the question of being human. Even if AL makes political references to his art, his concern is more of a philosophical nature.

The question of identity and being human arises for every human being. It goes hand in hand with the question of »who am I?« and with the mandate of self-empowerment; it becomes an existential question if one does not want to leave it to the determinants of the »stars« or any conceptions of humanism.

»I DON’T FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. I FIGHT FOR HUMANS TO BE RIGHT IN THEIR HEART.« AL

The presented images are excerpts of AL‘s digital art series from the last 5 years of his work. The digital images are printed only once and are available as unique pieces. Each DENKSTAHL UNIQUE has a signature stamp. It comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist and a limited art book. The DENKSTAHL Fine Art Prints are high-glossy prints, laminated behind acrylic glass and reinforced by a rear wall made of aluminum. The rear bracket ensures a simple and stable suspension. Prices, size and availability on request. If interested, please contact Verlag & Galerie Vollherzig: +49 1772851804 / denkstahl@vollherzig.de

More Articles:

»Just imagine, we would only be heads – HEADS II

»Book: DENKSTAHL STREET ART

»AL’s homepage: denkstahl.com