“The viewer who engages with this fine world of images embarks on a never-ending journey of discovery into a distant, foreign land. And every time it is anew.” (Matthias Maaß)
In addition to his serial works such as “Cherie’s 5000 Bottles”, his expressive portraits in ink and watercolor are particularly impressive today. With light strokes, the predominantly small-format works reflect inner emotional worlds that captivate the viewer. Matthias Maaß works quickly and intuitively. In seconds he captures sketchy impressions on paper, which are then skillfully colored. Gentle color transitions contrast with the often rough contours of the ink lines.
Maaß saw himself as a researcher and seeker. His pictures have a contemplative aura, a mystery of their own, and reveal new levels of perception every time they are viewed. His drawings were multifaceted. While his “daily pictures” were more of a documentation of his current emotional world, his more complex grid pictures resulted from weeks of dealing with profound topics.
Maaß was also known for his experience in psychiatry. Some of his works, including the impressive painting “The Funeral Feast” from 1992, are in the Prinzhorn Collection at the Heidelberg University Hospital. The majority of his art is owned by the Heidelberg art collector Wilhelm Kampik, the founder of the company ARTTRD.
Matthias Maaß was a well-known figure in Heidelberg, always well-dressed and with a distinctive black and grey hairstyle. Many who knew him by sight were often unaware that they were dealing with a renowned artist. With astonishing stamina and intensity, he created works that were often created in nightly series and transported the viewer into unfathomable inner worlds.
Unfortunately, Matthias Maaß passed away on May 18, 2019. But his rich, profound and diverse work remains and continues to captivate the attentive viewer again and again.