Rapidograph, sprayed ink 

39.4 x 23.6 inches. Kunstraum H&H

The protagonist of Bret Easton Ellis´ novel „American Psycho“ is entirely focused on surfaces. Despite his status and financial standing, he experiences no pleasures, no real satisfaction, just temporary thrills. Being occupied by endless self-optimization, his motto is: „One can always look better.“ Patrick Bateman also receives social and monetary encouragement and affirmation over and over again, and to a not inconsiderable degree in the ladies' world... while he continues to wither away inwardly. His presentable narcissism leads him deeper and deeper into madness.

Bateman spends his generous free time in the poshest of settings. At some point, however, he is no longer able to keep an ever more voracious germ of disease in check through brand intoxication, body cult, excesses with hostesses and prostitutes... rather, he constantly feeds it. 

Oscar Wilde described self-love as the beginning of a lifelong romance. Patrick Bateman´s self-love produces dissatisfaction and restlessness though, no matter how enraptured he may admire the fit of his hairstyle in the mirror. Finally, the boiling frustration finds an insufficient outlet in sadism, bloody murder phantasies and cannibalistic violence scenarios. Whether the latter actually take place or are merely fantasies remains open.