Galerie Max Hetzler is pleased to present the upcoming exhibition Happy Days in Mexico with new works by Frank Nitsche at Bleibtreustrasse 45.

Nitsche's paintings condense the ubiquitous mass media imagery into a distinct language of form. Geometric planes, forms and lines build abstract compositions. Partly overlapping and recurring, these elements create various layers and levels, which unite as single components to a complex construction.

In his works, Nitsche refers to an immense archive of images and icons from pop and consumer culture, product design, news reports and mass media. He collects, arranges, disassembles, recomposes and constructs: An ongoing process of repainting, discarding and releasing. Hybrid structures emerge, depicting the essence of our highly aestheticised present. At times, one seems to recognise comic-like faces and figures, buildings or brand logos, but these images and impressions immediately disappear unverified, rather emphasising Nitsche's play with our habitualised ways of perception.

Happy Days in Mexico presents a selection of new paintings. While some still indicate a reference to earlier works which were mainly reduced to nuances of grey, most of the new paintings show an intense colourfulness. The colour dominates the image build up and sharpen the contrasting effect of different elements, especially through the use of complementary colour hues. Grass-green next to cerise, deep blue and brash orange – interrupted by graphic lines and frames, these paintings not only refer to current mass media that courts for attention but also an universal, computer-based form of expression.

In addition to these paintings, featured in the exhibition for the first time is a group of panels that are covered with stickers all over – collaged and in several layers. Collected during travels all around the world these stickers emphasize regional stylistic peculiarities and likewise allow an insight into Nitsche's own pool of inspiration.

At the same time, we will inaugurate an exhibition with sculptures and drawings by Inge Mahn at Goethestrasse 2/3.

Frank Nitsche, born 1964 in Görlitz, lives and works in Berlin. Nitsche's works were presented in several solo exhibitions at institutions and museums, such as Brandenburgischer Kunstverein, Potsdam; Nanzuka Underground, Tokyo (both 2011); Haus am Waldsee, Berlin (2010) and FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand (2007). He took part in group shows at meCollectors Room, Berlin (2015); KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2014); Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau, Dresden (2013), Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv (2012); Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg (2011) and the Royal Academy of Arts, London (2010) among others. His work is represented in important collections, such as the Centre Pompidou – Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris; Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin; Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), Los Angeles; Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York and the Tate Britain, London.