“The Art of Embracing Chaos” exhibition

by Johan Deckmann

“The Art of Embracing Chaos” is a reminder to us to find clarity and purpose amidst life's unpredictability. Join the journey to embrace chaos and discover the hidden treasures that await within each twist and turn, inspiring you to live a life filled with meaning, inspiration, and the joy of self-discovery.

In this collection of artworks, the paintings are kept in black and white. This choice is meant to emphasize that he is a text-based artist. "When creating works centered on text, in my opinion, words should be capable of speaking on their own, without the need for color, illustration, shape, music, or explosion – similar to how it's done in a book. In a book, the black and white format is sufficient; it's enough.”         So, he writes his words and then leaves them on the canvas for you to read, imagine, associate, feel, and react. "These words are from me to you.” 

BIO

Copenhagen-based Artist, Psychotherapist, and Author, Johan Deckmann (b. 1976) produces work that delves into the complexities of life, through amusing and wittily fabricated book titles that are painted onto fictional self-help books and canvases. Deckmann’s art presents us with a hybrid between paintings, poetry, and psychology. Recognizing the immense capability of language in both therapy and art, Deckmann’s work forces the viewer to self-reflect. “I use the strengths from both of my fields, both creatively and intellectually to create a synergy that I would not otherwise be able to develop”. 

Johan Deckmann's psychological background and practice are fundamental and central to his work, inspiring and providing the content, and furthermore, serving as a steady reminder of personal responsibility. A remarkable feature of Deckmann‘s work is the relatability of the titles, regardless of gender, cultural background, or age. Rather than solely presenting the sinister aspects, some of his works are made playful by adopting language that you may find in an instruction kit. Deckmann argues that for him, “humor is an essential characteristic if you want to stay, not only sane but also happy. Humor is somehow the instrument of the light-hearted.” The connection between his work, psychology, and his life is rational and thought out. The works reflect his perception of life with all its beauty, humor, fear, meaning, and lack of meaning, but most importantly, he showcases ruthless honesty. 

“The right words can be like good medicine.”

Exhibition Date: 11/11/2023 - 17/12/2023
Location: JWD ART SPACE

Past Exhibition

2023:
· Aout Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
· Vin Vin Gallery, Vienna, Austria.
· Chin’s Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand.
· Staedtische Galerie und Museum Bietigheim, “Bibliomania – Das Buch in der Kunst”, group show, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. 

2022:
· Phillips, “Once Upon a Time in Mayfair”, curated by Angeliki Kim Perfetti, selling group exhibition incl. Sally Kindberg, CB Hoyo, Maja Djordjevic, Alexander James and others, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, UK.
· Kunstmuseum Villa Zanders, ”Bibliomania – The Book in Art”, group show incl. Andreas Gursky, Kris Martin, Boris Becker, Timm Ulrichs and others, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.
· Augustenborg Slot, “Wie man ein gutes Leben fürth, obwohl man ein Fußballspieler ist”, curated by Anthon MaXus Christophersen, MaXus 101, Sønderborg, Denmark.
· Listasavn, The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands. “Skøra” group show with Jesper Jokeren Dahl, Simon Fensholm and others, Thorshavn, Faroe Islands.
. The Venice Biennale, represented by The Gervasuti Foundation, Venice, Italy.
· Art Fair Tokyo. Represented by MAKI Gallery, Tokyo International Forum, Japan.
· Colección SOLO. “He aprendido que tienes que rezar por lo que no conoces” at Sala Amós Salvador, group show with Danny Fox, Tony Matelli, Peter Saul, Ryan Mosley, Aaron Johnson and others, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. 

2021:
· Maki Gallery, solo show, “You May Not Want To Hear This”, Tokyo, Japan.                                                                                    · Galerie Mighela Shama, solo show, Geneva, Switzerland.
· Galerie Soon, Zûrich, Switzerland.
· Save Art Space, “RESTORATION: NOW OR NEVER”. 

Public art exhibition curated by: Aindrea Emelife, Anne Verhallen, Daria Borisova, Destinee Sutton-Ross and Michael Xufu Huang, supported by Hauser & Wirth, London, UK.
· Urvanity Art Fair, represented by Badr El Jundi Gallery, Madrid, Spain
· Sotheby’s Vienna, fundraiser auction, Vienna, Austria. 

2020:
· G / ART / EN, solo exhibition, “Reading Between The Lines”, Como, Italy.
· Rhodes Contemporary Art, group show with Sage Barnes and Wasted Rita, “Preface”, London, UK.
· El Jundi Art Gallery, “Khrōma”, Marbella, Spain.
· Guy Hepner, New York, USA.
· BG Gallery, “Art Is Love”, San Francisco, USA
· Colección SOLO, “Human After All”, group show with Nam June Paik, Tony Matelli, Ryan Mosley, Christian Rex van Minnen and others, Madrid, Spain. 

2019:
· Rhodes Contemporary Art, London
· London Art Fair, represented by Rhodes Contemporary Art, London, UK.
· Arsham Fieg Gallery, solo show, “Manuals”, curated by Daniel Arsham and Ronnie Fieg, New York, USA.
· Thinkspace Projects, “Re-Beginning”, curated by Paintguide, CA, USA.
· Megaplex Worldwide Exhibition, “1989”, Denmark.
· Guy Hepner, New York, USA.
· Vanzak Gallery, Sáo Paulo, Brazil.
· Pablo’s Birthday, “HERE+NOW”, New York, USA. 

2018:
· Spoke Art Gallery, “Fantasia”, San Francisco, USA.
· Arp Museum, “It Takes Time, It’s Risky and It Might Last Forever”, Remagen, Germany. · Galleri Benoni, “Windowlicker”, Copenhagen, Denmark.
· Unspeakable Projects Gallery, “Book Club”, New York, USA.
· Montserrat College of Art Galleries, “What Can I Say?”, Massachusetts, USA.
· Christoffer Egelund Gallery, “The Annual Winter Group Show”, Copenhagen, Denmark. 

2017:
· 57W57 Arts Gallery, “First Editions”, New York, USA.
· Christoffer Egelund Gallery, “The Big Annual Group Show”, Copenhagen, Denmark. 

2016:
· White Noise Gallery, “Any Given Book”, Rome, Italy.
· Kunsthal Charlottenborg, “Charlottenborg Spring Exhibiton 2016”, Copenhagen, Denmark.