20 February 2020

John Heartfield – Photography plus Dynamite – Akademie der Künste Shows John Heartfield Retrospective, Opening 21 March, Pariser Platz

John Heartfield's (1891–1968) political photomontages have lost none of their explosive force. They remain a powerful and highly effective means of visual rhetoric. Using strategies meant to enlighten and persuade, Heartfield attempted to mobilise a wide audience against fascism and war. The Akademie der Künste is reviewing the oeuvre of the graphic artist, animator and set designer in a major retrospective opening on 21 March 2020. The rise of fake news, increasing right-wing radicalism and hate speeches in social media make us aware how relevant Heartfield's work still is for us in 2020.

On view until 21 June 2020, the Akademie exhibition titled John Heartfield – Photography plus Dynamite examines the many facets of Heartfield's art, ranging from book design and advertising work for the political press, to set design, photography and animated films. It delves into Heartfield's methods for using powerful imagery in very different contexts and elucidates his production processes. Previously largely unknown works and documents provide insights into Heartfield's complex field of reference. During his life, which was marked by persecution and exile, Heartfield was closely connected to important contemporaries, including Bertolt Brecht, George Grosz, Wieland Herzfelde and Erwin Piscator. The starting point for the exhibition was the digitisation of Heartfield's graphic oeuvre, which can also be viewed in an online presentation, and an assessment of materials from diverse archival departments at the Akademie der Künste. The exhibition is enhanced by a number of works that are being shown for the first time, such as preliminary designs, travel sketches, photos and film documents, as well as previously unknown sources of inspiration from his collections of prints and drawings and East Asian artefacts.

An interdisciplinary special event programme – including films and performances, lectures, readings, workshops and guided tours – addresses Heartfield's past impact and current significance. The catalogue accompanying the exhibition is published by Hirmer Verlag. In parallel, Quintus-Verlag is publishing John Heartfield. Das Berliner Adressbuch 1950–1968, an annotated edition of the artist's last address book.

Additional venues for the exhibition in the United Kingdom (Royal Academy of Arts, London) and the Netherlands (Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle) reaffirm John Heartfield's continued international appeal.

An exhibition of the Akademie der Künste, Berlin
Funded by the German Federal Cultural Foundation

EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Title of the exhibition: John Heartfield. Photography plus Dynamite
21 March – 21 June 2020
Venue: Akademie der Künste, Pariser Platz 4, 10117 Berlin
Press Preview: 19 March, 11 am
Opening: 20 March, 7 pm
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun 11 – 7
Ticket: € 10/5, free admission for under 19s and Tuesdays from 3 pm

Further exhibition venues:
26 September 2020 – 3 January 2021, Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle (NL)
27 June 2021 – 26 September 2021, Royal Academy of Arts, London

www.adk.de/heartfield (online as of 26 February)

Press photos available for download:
https://www.adk.de/de/presse/save-downloads/2003_Heartfield/

Press Contacts:
Anette Schmitt, schmitt@adk.de, Tel. +49 (0)30 / 20057-1509
Mareike Wenzlau, wenzlau@adk.de,  Tel. +49 (0)30 / 20057-1566