The Story of Jonathan Meese

The German artist Jonathan Meese tells the incredible story of his childhood and of how he became an artist; how he invented his own language as a teenager, how he discovered his artistic talent on his 22nd birthday, and how he would have had just as much passion if he had worked in a bank.
Interview by Christian Lund in Jonathan Meese's studio in Berlin, February 2011.
Filmed by Marie Forchhammer and Martin Kogi.
Produced by Martin Kogi and Christian Lund
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
© Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art -- 2012.
Meet more artists at www.channel.louisiana.dk
Louisiana Channel is a non-profit video channel for the Internet launched by the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in November 2012. Each week Louisiana Channel will publish videos about and with artists in visual art, literature, architcture, design etc.
Read more:
channel.louisiana.dk/about
Supported by Nordea-fonden.

[@alsaulso1332]

art does not need a professor!!!! 100% art is the professor!!!

[@jobzagudn]

I fucking love this guy.

[@lucifervibes]

i feel sorry for all the people that don't realize how good of an artist he is, yes, hes insane but genius. hes enthusiastic and inspiring. hes going to be remembered as a great artist, all the greats were criticized for what they did but ended up being super remembered

[@janruysch6612]

Imho, he is propably saner than most people. People often mistake eccentricity with insanity.

[@emmanuellealexandra350]

So fantastic! Jonathan Messe is an incredible artist with such a deep and mesmerizing personality. Huge fan of his work and ideas, I can't help but be overcome with happiness just listening to all the fabulously unpredictable things he says.

[@idaloup6721]

❤

[@BeyondSideshow]

Hate on Meese all you like, but you have to admit the man has some balls.

[@luking2644]

Sad to see so many comments by people who do not understand his rule-free thinking. He captures the essence of true art. Great stuff!

[@lutze5086]

first genuine person on this damned channel

[@patrikkarlson4257]

Then what is true art? You seem to know. This dope head is a spoiled dick who at age 22 had some fucking revelation that he was an artist...

[@RabinArt]

one of a kind... this man is original ... he tells the harsh reality of society and life. thanks and regards to his mother for her amazong creation

[@phalaxy]

uncontrolably love this guys attitude towards art and at making, hes just the perfect amount of crazy

[@allie2647]

I was just overwhelmed, I love him.

[@dimesonmygrassXx]

I'm in love with Jonathan meese haha

[@stefanstern3542]

So glad I found 'Louisiana Channel'!

[@thelouisianachannel]

Welcome :)

[@Mr.Meowgical]

This was actually pretty inspiring.

[@DieSchlumpfmutze]

I hadn't heard of this guy before, and for the first minute or so I thought it was maybe a spoof, but the more it went on the more I liked what he was saying. I definitely agree with what he said about art being something that can't be taught.

[@BillyBlob]

Thank you for posting this video. it is refreshing to watch and listen to someone so original. Jonathan's art and mind inspire me.

[@levaq8261]

The most unique artist. What an inspiration.

[@TomPark1986]

The eccentric, insane, wise man

[@bolloxmagee4409]

minus the wise

[@ryanlaconte6243]

Hes a true artist going after it he's actually doing what we feel like doing to express the devotion of our Art his passion and love for it really does inspire Bravo stay believing Modern day Madd artist has always got to be genius. Jonathan Meese =the full believing Love for Art cant help but love it.

[@lisengel2498]

I like his way of giving himself unconditionally and honestly to the open now and using play as a way of finding a felt expression of the lived now- not following rules but playing to be in dialoque with the felt energy

[@davidnyffenegger]

he's a bit radical in many ways, but has still very truthfull things to say about art… but he definitely can't deny the fact that he's talking about art in a religous manner…

[@leenelson6078]

nyffiproductions yeah.. a BIT.

[@lets7121]

Are you saying you can't be radical and have truthful things to say? I don't see or hear anything about Religion here.

[@NaamahCarnage]

I was in that studio back in 2012. So amazing.

[@flanpuddingg]

I wouldn't say I totally agree, but I really respect this guy. Super awesome and interesting work!

[@ElPerroBigoton]

This guy's awesome

[@manspalmberg693]

People who put him down really dont get his genius! He is really true to art.

[@SocialAlchemyProject]

"Mr. Meese is utter genius. What he stated about parents is correct. His "leave me alone" voice is great". Tyler Lord Hamilton

[@justinruins]

love him. his ability to meld character/being with art/creation is great. there is an infinite amount of space in this world, and Meese shows us how much better it could be if we gave art more space to exist.

[@FantuzArt]

Interviewer: "Do you think you would have been a good banker?" Jonathan: *pauses, raises hand to chin and ponders*. "yes, I would have been a good banker, full of passion" This was a wonderful, insightful, passionate interview!

[@marcusweyrauch8112]

I wanted to add one point of my own, about the very important topic of education within this video. The by one's self, learning of a subject and topic discovery on one's own, leads to new discovies being made on a topic. These discoveries are completely original and sometimes old discoveries are remade by the artist without even having any previous knowledge help, such that school gives. don't get me wrong, school gives us important experience but also hinders are understanding/our full comprehension, by giving us short cuts/equations without letting us build faulty equations first so that we understand why the correct given equations work. If Artist could be allowed/given the push to build from the ground up, then Artists could discover a better way to execute a solution to fix a problem in a few topics like human interaction or math maybe. Jonathan Meese knows that their is another more original way to learn Art. He also contraindics with words that can be taken in many directions. Such as his skill to freestyle a painting is influence by his past experience even though h may say to himself, put a line of paint here because this is the last place I would ever put a line of paint. He must have found a way to make decisions without thought in the sense of words in ones head and the rule of threes is in grained so deeply that he does not think of rules, for many Painters are ware of the sensation of knowing something looks good or needs a touch here or their. So Jonathan's words could be taken down another path, a silly judgeing path.

[@lemonadeskatesss569]

I always watch this before my school art exposition

[@jakeschimmel2583]

my favorite living artist. complete genius.

[@thatbiatchIrene]

Woah, listening to the same songs and drifting away from reality........I do that every day....

[@yusufronco]

i have a hard time believing this isnt a mockumentory

[@themisaker]

Really good stuff thanks

[@abstract27]

Sucha inspiration

[@artfulspace4209]

Love this guy!

[@cardplayer07]

I like that he talks about his mother.

[@shitbag.]

Click the video to pause it then type awesome. Seriously you will not regret it.

[@wi11ydapimp]

love it. cool dude and nice work too

[@Figsforfun]

Love him!

[@paddyskate]

Franz was his tutor !! Amazing

[@liamkucht]

I saw some grins in there. definitely trolling 😂

[@AssumesAllRisks]

I agree, I watch the German ones but this vid is fantastic!!!

[@nicksum29]

LOL - the comments below. Why is it that people find it necessary to feel jealous of unusual people.

[@fernandomesquita3497]

Was a pleasure to meet you! Maybe one of these days in the "real" world! :))) Bis Bald!

[@SimulationandAviation]

Really nice work.. Inspiring :)

[@molly9929]

It's sad that people think that art need some talent. No. It needs time, it needs love and passion, you need to be obsessed to be a painter, any kind of artist. And, that's the talent. The talent in is more inteligence. Smarter people always making more creative, or more constructive works. So yeah

[@mollyisabella4724]

Ahh I love him, love him love him love me!

[@hannahf2884]

crazy wisdom!

[@nancywalter7555]

Love him.

[@TheCandicimo]

Yes! More videos of my favorite artist in English! Not that the German ones aren't spectacular as well.

[@nicolareddwooddforest4481]

No, he would not have been a banker. He has an artist brain. I also see him as a philosopher, and a very important one.

[@ForrestGregory]

Growing up he showed zero interest in activities, school, etc. He felt disconnected to ideology as a whole which made him lack self confidence thus creating a cloud of disbelief and rejection to the norm. At the end of the day humans stay in their comfort zone of what they know, he knows disbelief and the feeling of being an outsider very well and so for most of us who think he is stepping outside of his comfort zone, in reality he is just painting what he has known and what he is comfortable with.

[@Disgustipado]

I find his paintings horrendous, and dont like them. But I admire his passion and honesty.

[@xXEverymanXx]

becuase as he says, he does not have a lot of talent

[@epictetus9221]

He's a great painter

[@lun1ses]

its not about the paintings, its about painting.

[@michaelangie]

I love Jonathan Meese he is my hero! I watch this video often and share it with my fellow artists. I have a question though. at 13:24 he says what sounds like a French phrase, describing his father and I don't know what he's saying. does anyone know what it is?

[@shevalev--]

Hercule Poirot

[@jonnattanbarreiro3098]

Es un tipo honesto, aunque algunos digan lo contrario

[@LaBayZe]

this is the best comedy ive ever seen

[@ambientcarnage]

I just got dumped. But this video is making me smile.

[@Jason_xx]

Bye bye ...i will survive in a different way . .fucking love that .

[@LadyVirginia3]

Seems like he really is either loved or hated

[@Veroenischkeit]

to a german speaker, he doesn't even sound manic :>

[@JJ66888]

Map is Mappe meaning portfolio in German

[@JanneFlinck]

Do you think, they mainly teach art, to understand it, not how to make it?. Would you have advice, for fellow artist, i have artists block, im perfectionist in my paintings, and every painting i do, have to be better than last, in technic and in content.

[@ricoadventuravideos]

i studied in the best schools of united states and I have been doing art professionally on and off for 20 years...im only saying this so people can see that the opinion I am going to make has some experience behind it. art can not be taught..its true it has its own way of working but it can be learned about and it can be understood as far as how it has grown.Its not this abstract thing that people have to worship without knowing how and why.if it isnt to be taught why is he teaching us about him

[@GDoodler]

Johnny Knoxville with a wig?

[@JadenJahci]

Pure unfiltered Honesty is a very freaky thing...So to are,... Bold faced lies. While one is indeed free to be,... Sadly thee other,..is not to be. So... what was the question again??

[@biswajitmajhi4983]

Yes sir, when you talking about art, I think it's me, I am artist, live in India, and too much poor, even I am enable to perching a paper, I live in my village, and think alone that I have nothing to do, and no scope to open up my idea, what I have to do please tell me sir, please please please please please please sir

[@bennygee3067]

Get on Instagram. Paint on anything.

[@smokemoar101]

Paint on the village. Paint on the walls, on the people...

[@jonnattanbarreiro3098]

El arte es Tecnología. Hay que jugar con la Tecnología.

[@derunsympath]

him on jre would be insane too bad he seems not interested in traveling.

[@zissou6928]

Love Flula Borg

[@jeroenm6654]

Many people don't understand this way, and thing he's trying to say.. but those are not listening at all.. Compliment Jonathan XD continue

[@rottencore0]

I only just realized he is speaking english.

[@elspoko]

I went to a magnet middle school in Miami, and then to New World. Received a teaching degree, with a minor in visual and art history. I only mention this so you get my pedigree. With that said, I have to disagree with you. While I agree the artistic process cannot be taught, I do believe the magicians tricks can be taught. The ability to put down what you want can be taught. From my experience, that's what schools teach. The ability to put down exactly what you want and explain yourself well.

[@mzunguofficial]

i want his energy

[@artecht2202]

art is jonathan

[@yoyotubero1640]

real ARTIST don't choose to become an artist instead ART chooses them to be! ART is a force...that chooses you (an ARTIST) to become its disciple...you don"t say im an artist because i make artworks instead your artworks will define you!

[@65ADORNO]

Ha... That is funny.. So true......

[@megavide0]

3:37 "... I had an own language..."

[@paddyskate]

Manu Forster how is your German ?

[@hoomalumalu]

He has an engaging personality, but I wouldn't have wanted to run into him during the war....

[@bbcrumbs]

Passiõn Bankęr•

[@aplaceoflove_]

Abba, The Beatles and DAF = Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft it's a german band, they make kind of electronic music

[@oknee9431]

totale show

[@MrTripcore]

He's a fantastic _actor_

[@doomfaring]

Interesting guy, but I'm left wondering about the German Cross in his paintings and necklace and the connection to the Hitler salute he made on 2013.

[@xlamcx]

Mushrooms anybody??

[@mdy888]

This is what Peter Pan meant by "Never grow up, it's a trap"

[@somecrazyartist]

Find it amusing as hell reading comments saying this man is insane or a complete Idiot or hes shit etc , from what my own artistic journey has shown me , I can say for certain that this Artist is more in touch with the "Real Reality" than those making these sort of comments could imagine or understand. I dont think these negative comments have anything to do with jealously , these people reject what Jonathan stands because he threatens their belief system. If you find yourself reacting in this way it is OK just dont be a nasty about your limitations, sure its easier to put this man in a box and label him insane or eccentric . Sadly the majority of people living in this system, this fabricated Illusion of conditioned reality would label him in this way too! Hope one day Artists like Jonathan Meese can inspire more SystemPrawns to WAKE UP! Discover their own path that leads to the Joy & freedom that only comes with finding your own unique creative expression and liberate yourself from the shit packaged in mediocrity.

[@molly9929]

People, he talk like this cuz he's german. Their language is very emotional.

[@franklyspeaking]

Ron Swanson?

[@Foucault42a]

Why are there subtitles, they are completely unnecessary.

[@Foucault42a]

unless for deaf people of course.

[@a22words]

is it only music and dancing he is inspired by.....?

[@JeffersonDinedAlone]

This is not passion, this is being a full-tilt whackaloon.

[@ayna1]

Noni manson!

[@astrikks]

10:22

[@niklasschemel5914]

Look at how silky his hair is.

[@heythere5167]

Imagine if conspiracy theorists started calling this guy a satanist like they did with Marina Abramovic -- and get all serious about it!! It would be entertaining af seeing them show these videos of him making a fool of himself and saying it's satanic ritual!! I'd be laughing so hard, I wouldn't be able breath!!! 😂😂😂

[@hereandnow990]

Jonathan, to me personally, you are a Messiah of Art. Thank God, or heaven, or Art itself, that there is you!!!!! Hurrrraaayyyyy!!!!!!!

[@Brakathor]

What a bag of hot air, whoever this guy is. I can't remember the last time I've hear so little of value in so much dialogue.

[@BeyondSideshow]

Ignore the dialogue then, look at the paintings. He is a painter.

[@connorfarrell9661]

lol, could say same the same about you.

[@ofaparsamyan1176]

ԱԱԱԱնասու նն էս ինչ լավն ես

[@kaleighann813]

12 14 15 13

[@benz500r]

Another maniac from Austria. The world needs all kinds of people, even someone like Meese. I hope some people appreciate his message of nothing.

[@JustusVidyo]

German

[@epictetus9221]

You missed everything he said, then stopped to leave a condescending comment? Well done.

[@benz500r]

That's what you say. You better stop telling me what to do, Einstein.

[@epictetus9221]

benz500r Who told you what to do? Not me. I just wanted to point out that calling his message "nothing" really is missing *a lot.* But I promise I'll take your vague threat under consideration. I'm sure you are a very dangerous individual.

[@benz500r]

"Threat and dangerous individual" just like your prior comment don't belong here. If you are looking to pick up a fight, you are in a wrong place. We exchange our opinions here and if you don't like that, you deal with that, ha ha. Have a good day.