The world is changing faster than ever, from global warming and the loss of ecosystems, to the destruction of indigenous cultures and peoples. I create landscapes that reflect this theme, penetrating time and space in an exploration of the process of disintegration. Whether in painting, diorama or video, I utilize collage to create a globalized vision built from many individual landscapes. The world that emerges is composed of my forms, thoughts, and narratives. I call it the Archaic Armageddon. My work evolves out of three distinct genres from art history: the technique of collage and paint remembers the dada and surrealism tradition to create a dream-like, otherworldly atmosphere; the stylization and perspective have been influenced by the formalism of Asian landscape paintings and prints; lastly, the narrative sensibility is inspired by the work of Bosch and Bruegel.

Max Greis creates collages, dioramas and videos that collapse time and geography in a cinematic take on the modern condition. Landscapes from Asia, Renaissance Europe and the Hudson River School mix with a sense of nostalgic, childhood play – cowboys and Indians, army - in the artists’ take on perpetual human conflict and destruction. Greis has exhibited at Pavel Zoubok Gallery, NYC; The National Arts Club, NYC; Visual Arts Gallery, NYC; Mighty Tanaka, Brooklyn, NY; The Artist Network, NYC; BRIC Rotunda, Brooklyn, NY; and The Edward Hopper House Art Center, Nyack, NY. A graduate of The School of Visual Arts, Greis is currently working on his MFA at Hunter College. Greis was born in New York City, where he lives and works.

Smoke Signal, 2012
Collage and acrylic on wood panel
20 x 32 x 1 ½ inches
Courtesy of the artist

Friends of the Indian, 2012
collage, acrylic, video projection on
wood panel
18 x 13 x 1 ½ inches; 2 minutes (loop)
Courtesy of the artist

http://www.maxgreis.com/