Powerful Art Museum Opposes Fascist Politics. Reveal Art Exposes Lies. Art As A Weapon Shows Alternate Facts Lead To Fascism & War

2016 changed America and the world. Countless words were written and spoken about America’s presidential election. Again and again, we heard facts proving Donald Trump was unprepared and unfit to be President of the United States. He was a temperamental bully and a pathological liar. Video proved Trump lied several times every day. Polls all over the Internet convinced American voters that Trump had no chance to become the person who each day makes life and death decisions affecting everyone on earth. A person whose words can literally topple an economy or begin a war. A person who can make science appear irrelevant, causing untold human suffering from climate change. Trump admitted he cares so little about his grave responsibilities he doesn’t read. Instead, he watches his favorite news channel and wastes time spreading nonsense through his Twitter account.

Alternate facts can be strong. Adolf Hitler did not march into Berlin on the shoulders of his army. Hindenburg offered Hitler the chancellorship with the Nazi party controlling only 43.9 percent of the vote. Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.

There has never been a more crucial time to celebrate and continue John Heartfield’s “Art As A Weapon” war against “alternative facts” (a great synonym for ignorance). Heartfield fought his entire life to oppose injustice and reveal, despite any propaganda to the contrary, there is only one objective reality.

When global warming science becomes just another collection of “alternative facts” to attack the profits of oil profits, powerful art must combat the destruction of our planet.

In 2016, John Heartfield grandson, John J Heartfield, the curator of The Official John Heartfield Exhibition curator traveled to Berlin for the second time. The Heartfield Archiv, Akademie der Künste, invited him for a face-to-face meeting with the new director, Werner Heegevalt, to discuss the exhibition curator’s “issues.” However, the new director spent very little time with the exhibition’s curator. The curator was impressed by the outstanding work done by Michael Kresja in the documents section of the archive. However, little progress was made in cooperation between the online exhibition and The Heartfield Archiv. Since that meeting, some important scholars have written to the curator to inform him they will no longer be using the services of The Heartfield Archiv, AdK. The curator is preparing a letter of cooperation for Werner Heegevalt. There is always hope that policies can change and the artist who risked his life to oppose fascism, a pursuit that grows in importance every day, will receive greater worldwide attention.

2016 was an incredible year for John Heartfield, Dada, and political art. Heartfield is now receiving the attention his work and his life story merits. Contemporary artists and admirers are celebrating Heartfield use of “art as a weapon” to combat the alternative fact that ignorance, greed, bigotry, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and out-of-control nationalism is the way to make America great. Reveal Art reveals real facts.

A Powerful Art Museum – Contemporary Artists Inspired By John Heartfield
There’s an exciting exhibit in The John Heartfield Powerful Art Museum. Reveal Art is art as a weapon against “alternative facts.” A weapon against complacency. A weapon that contemporary activist artists are using to provide visual jolts to reveal the truth behind the ugly propaganda unleashed in the 2016 United States presidential election. It’s time to tear away the bandages.
 
John Heartfield Featured In Collage Museum
DADA WORLD FAIR, Sponsored By City Lights Bookstore
From the DADA WORLD FAIR website: “John Heartfield was an artistic innovator who developed the modern art form of political montage. His influence on the realm of the 20th century Avante-garde has been extensive. He spearheaded vehement attacks on the Nazi party earning him status as a public enemy in the eyes of Hitler. Though Heartfield’s work reached millions and he played a central role in Berlin Dada, his place in 20th century art has gone underappreciated. We will explore his life and work with a special emphasis on his techniques and the politics he embraced – fighting the advent of totalitarianism in the 20th century.”

“An exhibit of local collage art inspired by Dada featuring the work of Scott Davis III, David King, John Hundt, Poly Morphous, and Winston Smith. Followed by a presentation of the life, work, and influence of John Heartfield by his grandson John Heartfield. Followed by an interview with Winston Smith and David King.”

Mahnmal Friedenskreuz
John Heartfield Photo Montage “Deutsche Eichlen” Is Permanently Installed
In Front Of Nazi War Memorial In Austria
In April, 2016, Austrian artist Martin Krenn collaborated with historian Robert Streibel, and artist-historian Gregor Kremser to place a transparent 2987 cm x 4280 cm (approximately 98 ft. x 140 ft.) metal and fabric version of John Heartfield’s powerful political photomontage Deutsche Eicheln directly in front of the Wehrmacht “Friedenskreuz (Peace Cross).” Five students from secondary schools were inspired to contribute anti-fascist montages (42.0 cm x 59.4 cm on plates) to the memorial. These works by inspired young artist surround the John Heartfield Deutsche Eicheln political photo montage installation. Their new collages stand as a powerful rebuke against those who would seek to poison the minds of youth with bigotry and hatred.

John Heartfield Gallery, Tate Modern London:
A German artist’s hard-hitting art exposes right-wing fanaticism
In 2017, it took only a week for the The Heartfield Exhibition curator and Tate Modern London to come to an agreement so that Tate Modern could display the pieces in the Tate Modern John Heartfield Gallery on their website. If you’re in London, a visit to the John Heartfield Gallery in the Tate Modern London cannot be missed. Admission is free.

John Heartfield’s Grandson Goes To Berlin
A Meeting With The New Director Of The Heartfield Archiv, Akademie Der Künste, Nov. 2016
In November, 2016, Professor John J Heartfield accepts an invitation to come to Berlin to meet with the new director of archives, Werner Heegevaldt. The agenda is a discussion of the current work of the Heartfield Archiv, Akademie der Künste. Meetings take place. However, John J Heartfield is still awaiting documents the new Berlin archive director believes are a requirement for any agreement between John Heartfield’s grandson and the Heartfield Archiv, Akademie der Künste, Berlin. John J Heartfield remains hopeful that the Heartfield Archiv will understand that the physical Heartfield Archiv in Berlin, the repository of the largest collection of surviving original John Heartfield art and the online Heartfield Exhibition can cooperate on what should be a common goal – to bring powerful artistic legacy of John Heartfield to a wider audience. Look for updates in the HIDDEN GENIUS section of The Official John Heartfield Exhibition & Archive.

Professor John J Heartfield is John Heartfield’s paternal grandson. He gives live interactive presentations around the world that focus on his grandfather’s life and work and modern political art. Please write to him to request his presence at your event or ask any question. He is always pleased to hear from exhibition visitors.