DITTRICH & SCHLECHTRIEM are pleased to present our second solo exhibition of Bernhard Martin (b. Hannover, DE, 1966) in our gallery. Martin’s signature genre-crossing painting style continues to develop, using contemporary portraiture, language, current social and political issues, and absurd scenarios to mirror the world we experience. “Probleme war gestern” is a playful nod to the well-known phrase by the popular German comedian and cartoonist Loriot, “Früher war mehr Lametta.” In this exhibition, Martin explores a departure from problems, encouraging viewers to immerse themselves in a dissociative revelry of pleasure.

The series of smaller-scale oil paintings on canvas collectively titled Probleme war gestern (Problems are so yesterday) portrays scenes such as broken wine glasses, opulent pizzas with excessive melting cheese, and other surreal psychedelic juxtapositions of figures, jewels, and technology, all evoking a sense of hedonism. The works inspire a hopeful outlook in stark contrast with the political and social turbulence and instability prevalent in the world today.

In any case, he looks not (only) to the reality outside his door for ideas for his paintings, but to commercials, the cinema, and the internet, which has after all become a second home to most people. One way or another, those imageries inspire a new Surrealism, a veritable phantasmagoria.

–Ulrike Knöfel, “Fantasmus am Waldsee,” Der Spiegel, May 23, 2020

A new exhibition essay contributed by Adriano Sack will accompany the exhibition and be published on our website prior to the opening.
Please contact Billy Jacob, billy(at)dittrich-schlechtriem.com, to request images and additional details on the artist and exhibition.