HELDENREIZER Contemporary

A storm of perception rages, at its center not just complete aesthetic anarchy but a chaotic interplay of figures—gawking half-beings, mythological superstars, and wild mythical creatures mingling with native flora, fauna, and historical characters. In Sebastian Maas’s paintings, myth, religion, and fairy tales collide. His work embraces an almost grotesque naivety, pushing it to its limits, only to contrast it with a beguiling, seductive figuration. The role of individual figures—or protagonists—remains deliberately ambiguous, especially in light of contemporary political events and upheavals. Woman, man, allegory, history, or landscape: Maas leaves interpretation entirely to the viewer. It is a dance around the golden calf of our staged longing for clarity and direction, where Maas seemingly grants conservatism a stage. Yet, while the eye believes it moves across familiar terrain, the underlying intent—if there is one—remains elusive. Maas’s approach is exploratory, playful, and open-ended, resisting the pull of conventional storytelling. One thing, however, is certain: his images evoke collective memory, referencing a shared past without imposing a moral framework. This engagement with history is not nostalgic. Dismembered bodies, fragmented faces, and sharply defined surfaces rupture the historical, forcing it into the present. In Maas’s work, painting becomes a piece of the puzzle of human identity—one that can only be completed in our time.

Sebastian Maas was born in 1984 in Aachen. He earned a degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Neuroscience from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich before transitioning to painting and graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich in 2013. He graduated with a diploma in fine art under Karin Kneffel in 2020 and subsequently became Kneffel’s master student. His works have been exhibited in galleries, institutions, and at international art fairs, including the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, Kunstverein Würzburg, Kunstverein Marburg, Art Dubai, and Untitled Art Fair in Miami.

Discursivity and diversity are integral to the DNA of HELDENREIZER Contemporary’s gallery program. Founded by art historian and publicist Marcus Trautner, the gallery aims to provide a platform where current discourses and themes are not only explored but also shaped and developed in stimulating and often groundbreaking ways. HELDENREIZER Contemporary hosts six solo and group exhibitions annually, featuring bold and thought-provoking works by emerging, multidisciplinary international artists. These artists challenge, explore, and amplify both thematic and formal aspects of contemporary discourse. The gallery also places a strong emphasis on installation and performance art, expanding traditional media boundaries.