Every day, we often unknowingly encounter the inner struggles and emotional depths of others. We ourselves experience pain and find ways to cope. For Berlin-based artist Benni Kakert (*1994), painting is one such way.
In The Miserable Bastard Show, he shares personal experiences and thoughts that preoccupy him. Each painting is an attempt to process something.
At the center of many works stands a fictional character: Dennis. Created during a therapy session, Dennis has a black-and-white painted face inspired by Black Metal. Not a clown, but a reflection of inner darkness. Dennis represents a part of all of us hidden behind roles, masks, and everyday facades. Kakert tears off these masks and asks: Can we even recognize our own misery? Or are we fooling ourselves?
Alongside the large, colorful canvases are smaller works: painted wooden boxes, each 30 x 30 cm. At first glance, they seem lighter, more playful with photos, text, and small drawings. Kakert includes himself, his dog Freddi, and people close to him. But these works are more than just personal mementos.
