Max Mikael Book

“Cumulus” was part of the renowned exhibition “Malstroem de Luxe” in 2002. The suite of paintings with the same name gave rise to a nomination for the Carnegie Art Award 2002. Fourteen years later, it was shown at Max Book’s major retrospective at Waldemarsudde in Stockholm in 2016.

A maelstrom is a natural phenomenon – beautiful and dangerous powerful whirlpools in the sea – that has always been surrounded by myths and legends. Lux is the Greek word for light. The artist sees the title as a kind of poetical abnormality. “A suggestive natural phenomenon, clad in a shimmering attire of beauty, luxury and destruction”. The other paintings in the suite depict decadent, luxurious environments overcast with a shimmering light in which the striving for luxury and glamour becomes a beautiful, degrading and dangerous force – the maelstrom.

In her review of the “Malstroem de Luxe” exhibition at Galleri Engström in 2002 Ingela Lind, DN, wrote: “After his depressing spaces and apocalypses, Max Book – in middle age – now produces a literally dazzling exhibition about money, luxury and decadence. At first I can’t believe my eyes. But “Malstroem de Luxe” gives the glitter the seductive gleam of destruction. There are rows of paintings of women, alloys blended from the fashion images of madonnas and whores. Marilyn naturally has a part to play, as does the skin of the canvasses, achieved through drip painting over manipulated computer images. Max Book has always been all about light. But “Malstroem de Luxe” is a new step. The paintings suddenly glow with a delirious light. It has to do with the Greek lux – light, glitter, reflection – but also the infectiousness of madness.”