Forbes Magazine – 12 cultural trendsetters with input on the decade
Forbes presents 12 cultural trendsetters with input on the decade: Film, TV, Design, Painting, Architecture.
In the modern ‘fast-food’ cultural landscape, the struggle for survival for artists and their creative peers is becoming more and more of a PR battle. This often makes the sales process more important than the artistic result – faster and more mainstream results are needed in these fast-paced times. The century is coming to an end and its protagonists are left to deal with the assault of TV – pictures vs. reality shows, info-dramas, correspondence. Forbes presents artists who have had a special impact and stand for this decade. Creatives who put their firm beliefs into actions and are already inventing the history of tomorrow: with their feet on the ground and their heads in the clouds.
Rainer Maria Latzke
Courage, tenacity and a sense of future trends made the painter Rainer Maria Latzke a millionaire. Back in the eighties, when the blank walls of the avant-garde art flourished, he swam against the current, and refused the spirit that called for a certain sterile coolness. Even when he started and his work was labeled as kitsch, the Beuys student didn’t get insecure about his work.Today, the whole world wants a mural by the 43-year master of Trompe l’oeil, who now resides on the beach in Malibu, in the former home of Hollywood star Nick Nolte, where he is working on new projects. A real Latzke starts from 300,000 German Marks (150,000Euros). In return the painter transforms dining, living, and bathrooms into serene, light-filled dream worlds. He paints according to his client’s wishes, ranging from Baroque to Sci-fi. “One should”, says the man who sees himself more as a service provider than as an artist “enter my rooms and feel enchanted, without knowing why. The perfect illusion as a counterweight to the threatening outside world.” Courage, tenacity and a sixth sense for future trends have made Rainer Maria Latzke a millionaire. Already in the 80s, when the avant-garde blank walls of art were declared, he swam against the stream and refused the Zeitgeist, who asked for scantiness and coolness. Nor could the fact that his artistic work was first greeted with a smile as “kitsch”, couldn´t make the Beuys student insecure. Nowadays everyone is getting crazy about the 43 year old Maestro of Trompe l’oeil murals, who develops his ideas in the former house of Nick Nolte at a beach of Malibu. A customer has to pay from 300,000 DM upwards for an “Original Latzke”. In return the artist transforms dining-, living- and bathrooms into bright and sunny dream landscapes. He also delivers murals from baroque to science fiction. ‘’One should’’ says the artist ‘’feel charmed and not know why when entering my rooms. The perfect illusion is counterweight to the threatening outside world’’. March 1993
