About the Work
In Helmut Middendorf's 'Electric Night', sinister figures move through the darkness of night like modern-day natives - dancing wildly in the glare of the stroboscopic light. Coarse, violent brushstrokes generate dynamism and movement. Although the dominant colour is blue, it is the bright red which creates the impression of light, makes the night recognisable as such and gives the picture depth. The colour intensity and painting style result in a tension-filled picture which manifests the attitude to life of a generation whose aggressive music scene was an important means of expression. Middendorf interprets this intensity and roughness in his large-format works. His energetic painting style makes him one of the most important representatives of the Neue Wilde (New Wild Ones). 'Electric Night' is the portrait of a subculture and a lifestyle marked by drugs and alcohol.
