Artsted Catalogue 2022

#41
JOHAN DECKMANN
Artsted Catalogue, 2023 Edition.
Johan Deckmann is a Copenhagen-based artist, practicing
psychotherapist and author, whose works examine
the complications of life through witty one-liners painted
on the covers of fictional “self-help” books. These book
titles, though often filled with scathing satire and humour,
tackle life’s biggest questions, fears, and absurdities.
Recognizing the power of language in both therapy and
art, Deckmann successfully forms simple phrases that
compress information, feelings or fantasies into an essence,
and a truth that has an effect that is very similar
to therapy. “The right words can be like good medicine,”
Deckmann shares.
One of the most powerful aspects of Deckmann’s works
is that every reader can relate to at least one them on a
highly personal level, regardless of what cultural background,
gender or age group. Titles such as “How to
disappoint and just keep disappointing – Disappointment
made easy” can resonate with anyone, but instead
of remaining sinister, the work is made humorous by
using the same language that you might find on a cook
book or instruction kit. “How to burn out instead of fade
away” might be most fitting for people that live in big
cities under pressure, and, perhaps: “How to keep doing
the same old mistakes and expect a different result”
could be considered the most universally human of all
one-liners.
—
Artwork: ‘The Cycle‘, 2018, Acrylic on book, 11 2/5 × 8 7/10 in
| 29 × 22 cm.
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