Salomé (artist)

In 1999, after an extended stay in the U.S., he returned to Berlin and reactivated his studio in the space of the former “Galerie am Moritzplatz”.

Together with painters like Rainer Fetting, Helmut Middendorf, Bernd Zimmer, Elvira Bach, Luciano Castelli, and Jiri Georg Dokoupil, Salomé now became known as one of the members of the “Wild Style” art group of the Junge Wilde (Wild Youth) or Neue Wilde (New Wild Ones). In 1982, due to the invitation by Rudi Fuchs to participate in the famed international art show “documenta 7” in Kassel (Hesse), West Germany, he had his international break-through.

With Luciano Castelli he in 1980 formed the Punk band ”Geile Tiere” (The Horny Animals, new wave music). With wild performances he presented himself in films and radio plays.

In 1980 Salomé was invited to participate in the exhibition “Heftige Malerei” (Wild Paintings) at the Haus am Waldsee, Berlin. That same year he also participated in the exhibition “Les Nouveaux Fauves – Die Neuen Wilden” in Aachen, West Germany. In 1981 he took part in the popular exhibition “Rundschau Deutschland”.

In 1977 Salomé, together with fellow artists Helmut Middendorf, Bernd Zimmer, Rainer Fetting, Anne Jud, Berthold Schepers, Rolf von Bergmann, and others founded the “Galerie am Moritzplatz” (Gallery at Moritzplatz). Other guests and members joined them later, e.g. Hella Santarossa and Luciano Castelli.

There he initially worked as an architectural draftsman for the U.S. Army in Tempelhof and at DETEWE, among others. After passing the entrance exam he enrolled at the Berlin Academy of Art (at the time HfbK – Hochschule für Bildende Kunst, today UdK – Universität der Künste), studying painting with Ulrich Knipsel from 1974 through 1980, later as a student in the master class of Karl Heinz Hödicke.

While a student he temped as a waiter at the clubs “Matalla” and “Dschungel”, as well as in the gay café “Anderes Ufer” (The Other Side). He had met the owner of the latter, Gerhard Hoffmann, in 1974 in the “Homosexuelle Aktion Westberlin” (HAW – Gay Action West Berlin). Hoffmann came up with the pseudonym Salomé in 1974. In “Anderes Ufer” Salomé also met David Bowie, among others, who was at the time enriching the wild Berlin night-life. At this time Salomé was in a relationship with Rainer Fetting.

Wolfgang Ludwig Cihlarz grew up in a dysfunctional family in Karlsruhe (Baden-Württemberg), West Germany, and completed his training as an architectural draftsman. In 1973 he moved to West Berlin, at the time renowned for its art scene.

Salomé (born 24 August 1954 as Wolfgang Ludwig Cihlarz in Karlsruhe, West Germany) is a German artist. His paintings are in renowned museums and collections all over the world. Salomé became known as one of the members of the art group Junge Wilde (Wild Youth) or Neue Wilde (New Wild Ones). He also is recognized as a sculptor and Punk singer.