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Overview
"I want my works to be like mirrors. When you look at them you might not like what you see, but like in a mirror, you now get the awareness and the chance to change something."
Johan Deckmann is a Copenhagen-based artist, practicing psychotherapist and author, whose works examine the complications of life through one-liners painted on the covers of fictional “self-help” books. These book titles, though often filled with scathing satire and humour, tackle life’s biggest questions, fears, and absurdities. Recognizing the power of language in both therapy and art, Deckmann successfully forms simple phrases that compress information, feelings or fantasies into an essence, and a truth that has an effect that is very similar to therapy. “The right words can be like good medicine,” Deckmann shares. While most of his book titles skirt between hilarious and poignant, underscored by their faded color and worn texture of 1970s era self-help guides, the readers are taken through a journey of self-reflection and soul-searching as they scroll through the entirety of Deckmann’s work. The artist explains that his psychological practice has great influence on his art, not only by serving as a tremendous inspiration for the content of his works, but also as a constant reminder of personal responsibility. “I meet many people who suffer from a circumstance that they themselves have created but they choose not to take action,” he explains. “I think it’s tragicomic that underneath our frustration and self-slavery lies this beautiful opportunity.” -
New In Johan Deckmann Paintings
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Series
News
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Johan Deckmann: Life Advice
Painted Books July 28, 2025Johan Deckmann’s painted books are a brilliant blend of satire, psychology, and artistic minimalism. At first glance, they resemble vintage self-help books from the mid-20th...Read more -
Johan Deckmann: A Conversation With The Self
Where Humor Meets Psychology may 29th, 2025Johan Deckmann ’s art is a conversation about the human experience, its contradictions, its humor, and its challenges. With his background as a psychotherapist, Deckmann...Read more -
Johan Deckmann
A Master of Words, A Canvas of Books August 20, 2024In the vibrant city of Copenhagen, artist Johan Deckmann transforms ordinary book covers into striking platforms for his poignant, text-based art. Deckmann , a seasoned...Read more -
Self Help with Johan Deckmann
Vintage Wisdom and Witty Reflections January 17, 2024RENOWNED PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND AUTHOR, JOHAN DECKMANN , DRAWS ON HIS EXTENSIVE CAREER TO ALLEVIATE THE PROFOUND EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES AND EXISTENTIAL DREAD THAT PLAGUE US. IN...Read more
