Franz Xaver Messerschmidt Transformed
by Edward Rose and Nick Reynolds.
Franz Xaver Messerschmidt was one of the most accomplished sculptors of the Eighteenth Century. Working in a neoclassical style he produced some of the most important works of the German Enlightenment. In 1771 he was struck down with psychological problems and lost his position at the Viennese Academy. It was at this point he devoted himself to the creation of his “Character Heads”, 49 astonishing busts contorted in extreme facial expressions.
It is from these “Character Heads” that we have created a collection of art works using different mediums to view the work of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt in a new light. Working with animation sculpture jewellery and graphics we hope to portray his work in ways that are thought provoking challenging and sometimes funny.
The animation “Franz Xaver Messerschmidt Transformed” was made using the special effect “Morphing” with this we created transitions between his enigmatic heads, thereby showing the inner turmoil of his soul and a greater realization of his suffering.
This animation was used by the Neue Galerie, New York and the J. Paul Getty Museum, California, as part of their exhibition of the work of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt.
Franz Xaver Messerschmidt Transformed. A Film by Edward Rose and Nick Reynolds.
Music Composed and Performed by Edward Rose 2012.
Requiem for the Ghost of a Flea, played on Five Instruments.