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The works of Scherzkopf by Eadweard R. York
Place M
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Eadweard R. York
In 1988 Eadweard invented ScherzKopf perpetrating the biggest art prank on the art world since Marcel Duchamp unleashed his “R.Mutt - Fountain, Urinal” in 1917.
Place M Gallery is pleased to announce the first Japanese exhibition of the legendary artist german artist “Scherzkopf,” which translates to Joke Head in German.
For a few years, Eadweard had been secretly working on experimental photographs while working as a photographer. Late one night, while sitting at Omaha’s Leavenworth Cafe, he created Scherzkopf (Joke Head) as a conceptual assault on the elitist art scene and as a tribute to Marcel Duchamp. The German anti-artist, Scherzkopf was a friend with Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol and Anshelm Kiefer. His resume included exhibitions at The Museum of Modern Art in NYC, The Institute of Contemporary Art in London, and The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
Scherzkopf was also, incidentally, the stepson of the important surrealist Max Ernst.
Eadweard created a fake resume that was sent out with a fake press release, containing fake interviews, and fake photos of Eadweard as Scherzkopf. The work was very real, and very experimental, and now important considering was no photoshop, and every image was hand made.
The exhibition opened to rave reviews and international interviews, before the press discovered that the artist Scherzkopf had been entirely fabricated by Eadweard. At the opening over 600 hundred people showed up to meet Scherzkopf. Scherzkopf was passed out drunk in the basement.
This is the original text from the announcement for the exhibition at The Museum of Cheap Art:
Scherzkopf A German Genius. The Stepson of Max Ernst. Warhol Looked up to Him. Anshelm Kiefer Studied Him. He Blew Their Minds Their Wigs Right Off The Tops of Their Heads. He is Out of Control. Mary Boone Pissed Her Pants When She Saw His Work. His Work Melted Before Their Eyes At The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Leo Castelli Cried When He First Saw His Work. He Was Born in 1945. Cologne Germany. It Has Affected His Work Immensely.
To-date, Eadweard has held over 85 solo exhibitions and public reaction performance pieces here in the US and in Asian galleries, contemporary art centers, museums, and underground exhibition spaces. He has been the subject of local and national news stories and has appeared as an actor in several short notorious art films. He newest feature film “YARUKI” is an award winning film on Amazon Prime US, and Japan. In 2016, a monograph of Eadweard’s street photographs was Published by Masakazu Takei ( FOIL Co., Ltd.) Titled: "In all of This Madness, I have seen untold beauty."
His powerful street photographs documenting the disenfranchised are in stark contrast to the numerous celebrities, bands, musicians and models who have appeared in front his lens, but whether affluent or impoverished, the images are stripped of all pretense and not easily erased from the mind - the work of one keenly aware of the essence of his subject matter.
As a musician, his notorious anti-art band, “Neubach Chaotic” released several cassettes in the 80’s - 90’s and has a track of noise music on LA radio station, KXLU’s CD “Demolisten” series alongside musician, Beck. The artist will make appearances at the gallery during the exhibition.
Place M Gallery is pleased to announce the first Japanese exhibition of the legendary artist german artist “Scherzkopf,” which translates to Joke Head in German.
For a few years, Eadweard had been secretly working on experimental photographs while working as a photographer. Late one night, while sitting at Omaha’s Leavenworth Cafe, he created Scherzkopf (Joke Head) as a conceptual assault on the elitist art scene and as a tribute to Marcel Duchamp. The German anti-artist, Scherzkopf was a friend with Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol and Anshelm Kiefer. His resume included exhibitions at The Museum of Modern Art in NYC, The Institute of Contemporary Art in London, and The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
Scherzkopf was also, incidentally, the stepson of the important surrealist Max Ernst.
Eadweard created a fake resume that was sent out with a fake press release, containing fake interviews, and fake photos of Eadweard as Scherzkopf. The work was very real, and very experimental, and now important considering was no photoshop, and every image was hand made.
The exhibition opened to rave reviews and international interviews, before the press discovered that the artist Scherzkopf had been entirely fabricated by Eadweard. At the opening over 600 hundred people showed up to meet Scherzkopf. Scherzkopf was passed out drunk in the basement.
This is the original text from the announcement for the exhibition at The Museum of Cheap Art:
Scherzkopf A German Genius. The Stepson of Max Ernst. Warhol Looked up to Him. Anshelm Kiefer Studied Him. He Blew Their Minds Their Wigs Right Off The Tops of Their Heads. He is Out of Control. Mary Boone Pissed Her Pants When She Saw His Work. His Work Melted Before Their Eyes At The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Leo Castelli Cried When He First Saw His Work. He Was Born in 1945. Cologne Germany. It Has Affected His Work Immensely.
To-date, Eadweard has held over 85 solo exhibitions and public reaction performance pieces here in the US and in Asian galleries, contemporary art centers, museums, and underground exhibition spaces. He has been the subject of local and national news stories and has appeared as an actor in several short notorious art films. He newest feature film “YARUKI” is an award winning film on Amazon Prime US, and Japan. In 2016, a monograph of Eadweard’s street photographs was Published by Masakazu Takei ( FOIL Co., Ltd.) Titled: "In all of This Madness, I have seen untold beauty."
His powerful street photographs documenting the disenfranchised are in stark contrast to the numerous celebrities, bands, musicians and models who have appeared in front his lens, but whether affluent or impoverished, the images are stripped of all pretense and not easily erased from the mind - the work of one keenly aware of the essence of his subject matter.
As a musician, his notorious anti-art band, “Neubach Chaotic” released several cassettes in the 80’s - 90’s and has a track of noise music on LA radio station, KXLU’s CD “Demolisten” series alongside musician, Beck. The artist will make appearances at the gallery during the exhibition.
Schedule | Oct 13 (Mon) 2025-Oct 26 (Sun) 2025 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||
| Website | https://www.placem.com/schedule/2025/main/20251013/exhibition.php | ||
| Venue | Place M http://www.placem.com/ | ||
| Location | 3F Kindai Bldg., 1-2-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022 | ||
| Access | 2 minute walk from exit 2 at Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station on the Marunouchi line, 10 minute walk from exit C5 at Shinjuku-sanchome Station on the Marunouchi and Fukutoshin lines or Toei Shinjuku line. | ||
| Phone | 03-3341-6107 | ||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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