Anthropocene I

German - Appropriation Franz Marc | 2025 | Oil on Canvas | 140 x 120 cm

The failures of mankind to stop or even limit the global climate catastrophe are obvious. Whole countries and islands are sinking in the floods, forests are burning all over the world and a mass extinction of animal species has begun.
In its latest report, the IPCC has once again issued an urgent warning against "business as usual".


In view of this irresponsible inaction of mankind, the artist Knapp has only a ironique to cynical reaction left. He quotes art-historically known works and transfers them into our time.
C.D. Friedrich's "Wanderer over the Sea of Clouds", Monet's "The Stroller", Rodin's "The Thinker" or "The Sower" by van Gogh are mutated into desperate optimists.

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Anthropocene II

Caribbean dreams - Appropriation Gaugin | 2025 | Oil on canvas | 140 x 120 cm

No way...Not us! - Appropriation Eduard Manet | 2025 | Oil on canvas | 140 x 120 cm

The works in this series operate on two levels: The first level, as in the works before it, deals with man's unwillingness or inability to act in the face of a threatening cathastrope.

The second level is about irony and art itself. The works contain speech and thought bubbles. They are positioned in such a way that the women's naked breasts are covered. However, this is not done out of shame, but is based on "anticipatory obedience" to the post-autonomous, globalised art world, in which nudity is considered offensive in some cultural circles and therefore cannot be shown there - even if the works have art-historical connotations.

The Creole text on the speech bubbles in "Caribbian dreams" reads: "Do you prefer red or yellow flowers for your wedding, sister?"  -

"I prefer red flowers, I love red flowers."

 The French text in Manet's breakfast reads: "I think I forgot to take the pot off the cooker."

Cause and effect

Nine eleven | Acrylic and canvas strips glued on canvas | 60 x 80 cm

The trigger for the group of works was the terrorist destruction of the two towers of the World Trade Center by Islamist bombers with almost 3,000 dead and, as a reaction to this, the attack by the USA on Iraq, which was not covered by international law.
A mixture of paranoia, hegemony, divine mission consciousness (G.W. Bush) and lack of reflection about the "aftermath" led to a disaster in the Middle East.

It was the arrogance of some politicians and the administration that used the feelings of revenge in parts of the people, lied to the UN and led the coalition of the willing into the war against the "axis of evil".

We are all still feeling the consequences today.

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VIP

(T)Error (George Bush) | Acrylic on Canvas | 80 x 60 cm

In the portraits of VIP, the artist Knapp explores the question of which particular character traits, attitudes, statements and actions characterize a person of social significance.

The results are tightrope walks between convetional portrait and caricature.

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