Max Olderock (1895-1972) developed his own semi-figurative to abstract formal language, which was influenced by the avant-garde environment of the Der Sturm gallery and his collaboration with Lothar Schreyer on expressionist stage works. A subliminal mysticism and seemingly archaic symbols from flora and fauna permeate the artist's drawings, paintings and woven works.
After an apprenticeship as a painter, Max Olderock studied painting and weaving at the Kunstgewerbeschule am Lerchenfeld in Hamburg. He designed interior decorations for variety theaters on the Reeperbahn, commercial buildings and private spaces as well as various stage sets. In 1925 and 1927, he presented tapestries at the Der Sturm gallery in Berlin, which were recognized by contemporary critics as independent works of art.
When the National Socialists came to power, he was forced to cease his artistic production and register as a master painter. After ending this professional activity in 1954, he devoted himself intensively to the bitterly felt time of inner exile - and continued to use his expressionist forms and colors, which were borne by deep mysticism.
The cataclogue will be published to accompany the exhibition at Museum Haus Opherdicke (17.03.-18.08.2024).