Jonathan Meese Interview: In Art You Have to Go Too Far

Studio visit to the German artist Jonathan Meese, who believes in The Dictatorship of Art, that art should rule the world, and that playing is the most radical thing you can do.
Jonathan Meese (b. 1970) is a German artist who works with paintings, sculptures, installations and performances, which are all about The Dictatorship of Art.
That art rules the world means that everybody does what he or she does with total passion, Meese says. He wants people not to be instrumentalized, he wants "a new wind".
Interview by Christian Lund, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, March 2011.
Copyright Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Recorded in Jonathan Meese's studio in Berlin by Marie Forchhammer
Produced by Martin Kogi and Christian Lund.
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Meet more artists at channel.louisia...
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.louisia...
Supported by Nordea-fonden.

[@luking2644]

I love these people who never grow up. They are the true passion and true art!

[@slickster2880]

More like true fuckups!

[@somecrazyartist]

I love him! From what Art has taught me its refreshing to watch this , He really gets it!

[@nicolareddwooddforest4481]

Absolutely fantastic man.

[@mandypac2854]

5:55 "To play is the most radical thing you can do in this world" (Meese). He cannot be easily explained and I see people misunderstanding his message a lot -but at the same time he is setting you up for it which is what art does. His fellow German artist John Bock also uses the idea of "play". I can see the obvious ways viewers automatically dislike his work but he is a true artist and not a sucker for signs/idealogies/politics. He is running from it and making his own non-threatening system. @ --4:30- 5:33 he starts to make the most sense and he gets serious.

[@16babacool]

Sensationell dieser Mann!

[@freshestkidschina]

Real fucking talk !!

[@DangeloBadu]

We love you Jonathan

[@tinachristofidou7032]

inspiringly amazing ..xx

[@somecrazyartist]

More relevant today than yesterday...

[@kazuma8630]

it helps to speak German😂

[@staninageric]

Loveya, Jonny ❤

[@dzondo5657]

GREATEST...ARTIST....

[@newartmov]

ART IS THE TOTAL POWER! NEWARTMOVEMENT 2017 AND FOREVER

[@welshriver]

All politicians resign. everything is play. No laws need to be enforced. Everybody is a 12 year old, just like you Jonathan. You're over 40 years old and you still live in your fantasy play land where nobody needs to grow up or do anything important. Everyone just wants to play ?

[@JordanService]

+Jordan Walters Playing is the most advanced thing you can do.

[@welshriver]

mmmm. koolaid.

[@epictetus9221]

In the very serious meaning of the word, yes. Everyone needs to play. Denouncing the tired old human ego games really would be in order. Your condescending comment only makes it more clear how right on the money Meese is. It's not "just play". I'm nit sure such a thing even exists.

[@DarkAngelEU]

Jordan you should look up Homo Ludens, it's probably what inspired Meese (and alot of other artists) to come to this conclusion of play.

[@kalimasud]

My Man Crush Everyday

[@holadonkey]

modern day Salvador Dali . with the right haircut and shave he could look like Adolf . but that would be taking his Art too far . likable and interesting guy .

[@marshalmaddening9011]

If anyone's read the previous, apparently i needed to get one off b/c i couldn't leave it alone. It was getting long, and It was nearly becoming a low grade labor of love, so I drowned it in the bathtub. No, i still have it and no reason not to hone on the little bugger if I feel like it. Where i left it, I was processing a basic question and its answer, and yes, he is a buffoon, but very much my kind of buffoon. My kind of snake oil salesman too most likely....i think. A common synonym for "artist" in any case, often applied to the good ones..

[@epictetus9221]

There's no snake oil on sale here. This is a honest man.

[@liamclose1099]

Knew he was real

[@Madamnesia]

la zappa

[@guitarsandsuchetc]

But he need's money in order to play this game. Paint and canvas cost money and to buy food to provide himself essential energy. Art must rule the world but the landlord needs to collect the rent. The world is govern by goods and services.

[@nononouh]

4

[@nomnzlnd]

I'd would to say sorry for my comment below,I've watched the videos found who this man is I'm still the same way I am with hitler signs and shit my hand would never create something that was a symbol of hate and death rape and murder,yes the Buddihst owned it first but it's known for what it's known for.Art is about communication speaking to one another even if that's without saying a word,art is the kids in NY on URL rap battle leagues,art is messed art is everything.

[@epictetus9221]

Study the history of swastika and you will quickly see how it has appeared all over the world in various cultural contexts... Yet you insist it has to be a nazi symbol. "Your hand" doesn't have the willpower to take the symbol back, but Meese's does. You don't care that it's a buddhist symbol, you want the "hitler sign". What does that tell us about your worldview?

[@eternalsourceproject]

Stop projecting your shit onto forms and images. It's only a symbol of hate because you project your belief onto it. A swastika is nothing more than intersecting crooked lines.