March 2008
Jochen Klein
Flowering meadows, autumn foliage, tree trunks and forest clearings—at first sight the paintings of Jochen Klein (1967–1997) show idyllic landscapes. Upon closer inspection, however, the underlying ambivalence of those scenarios comes to the fore. While the pictures vibrate with a zest for life, they also display an awareness of vulnerability and endangerment. Klein, who died at such a young age, dedicated his short career to the production of paintings that question the authenticity often attributed to the medium. Quotidian experiences were Klein’s main sources of inspiration: magazine advertisements, drug store almanacs or erotic films. He recognized in those motifs the vocabulary of a collective consciousness that belies, beyond the clichés, an intimate longing. A retrospective of Klein’s work will be on display at the art section of the Pinakothek der Moderne from March 7 through May 25. <<<
