Mirko Reisser (DAIM)

Born in 1971 in Lüneburg (Germany), currently living in Hamburg, the artist Mirko Reisser has become known worldwide as an artist especially for his large size graffiti works in the 3D-style, in which he depicts his writer name DAIM in serial repetition and within processes of construction and deconstruction. The book Mirko Reisser (DAIM) 1989 – 2014 is the most extensive publication of the artist’s œuvre so far. In 1989 he realized his first works in the public space – in 2014 the artist looks back on his artistic work that spans 25 years. This book now for the first time gives a comprehensive insight in the work of the artist, from the beginnings of his career that started with illegal works on the street, covering the time of his studies of fine arts in Switzerland up to the present, in which his works can mostly be seen in large scale museum presentations. This book shows the development of the works of the artist over a course of 25 years and within this scope all important periods of his œuvre in hundreds of images, of which many have never been shown before. Murals, canvases, sculptures, editions, graphics and the later tapings can be seen. The images furthermore grant a look behind the scenes and show production processes of some of the artworks. The texts contained in the publication are from renowned authors: Dr. Johannes Stahl, art critic and curator, takes a look back at the historic roots of graffiti, in whose tradition the works of the artist certainly stand, but from whose liberation they also fight. By also explaining the technique of the artist, he also makes it possible to look into the digital components that are involved in the process of realization of the works. Belinda Grace Gardner, known from numerous essays about topics of contemporary art in relevant publications, approaches the work of the artist from an art historical point of view. She examines signature as content and builds bridges to protagonists of conceptual art such as On Kawara with his date paintings and Hanne Darboven, she also draws conclusions about the connection of the works to concrete poetry. Arne Rautenberg, freelance author, artist and cultural journalist, not only discusses the works in his interview with Mirko Reisser, but also completes the text-constributions in this publication by giving an insight into the person that stands behind them. The foreword of the book is written by Rik Reinking, art collector, dealer and curator, that has been following Reissers career since its beginnings illustrates the relationship between collector and artist.