Art Friday : Max Grundy - Fear is the New Beauty
Max Grundy illustrates a bleak world tottering on the brink of a nuclear holocaust.
His art style is striking and powerful and portrays both our real fears or imaginary ones perpetrated intentionally by today’s mass media, mainly in harsh and brutally effective red and black colours.
© Max Grundy
From top to bottom:
Atomic Coupe 2007.
Nucleomituphobia 2007
Berlin Burnout
When The Bombs Drop 2005
A recurring theme of classic hot rods, nuclear weapons, anonymous masked individuals, flames and political/ideological symbols like the Communist Red star and German Iron Cross feature prominently in his artwork. However fear and despair does not emanate from these symbols of fear as Max Grundy explains in his artist statement:
My creation blows up the daily powers of fear to an extreme ratio, then puts this spectacle into the
gallery environment. When the viewer sees it in this situation, it will become a tangible thing made of shapes and colors, instead of the specter of fear. It now becomes isolated. The threat is neutralized, maybe turned into a novelty. The fear is now a form of entertainment for the public.
The above quote also justifies why the slogan “FEAR IS THE NEW BEAUTY” is emblazoned in bold letters all over his official site at www.maxgrundy.com 
First encountered his distinctive artwork over at deadlicious Rock’n'Roll Patisseries’s first post featuring the cover artwork of DicE Magazine Issue 14 done up by Max Grundy himself. A similiar artwork exists in his gallery as Traumatophobia (2007).
© Max Grundy
Check out Max Grundy’s gallery or his online store for prints or t-shirts adorned with his artwork.
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Now, even though I tend to associate the Red Star with hope, I must admit the artwork and idea behind it is amazing. Probably the best you’ve given us yet. Thanks!
You’re back ! I found Max’s work from random browsing (as always)
The guys in gas masks in the art as well as the colours used attracted me to his work at first sight.
I can definitely see why…