Gerhard Richter, one of contemporary art’s most influential figures, has permanently loaned 100 of his works to Berlin’s Nationalgalerie. This comprehensive collection is being exhibited in its entirety for the first time at the Neue Nationalgalerie, starting in March 2023.
The Focal Point: The Birkenau Series (2014)
At the heart of the exhibition are four large-scale abstract paintings, the result of Richter’s profound and prolonged engagement with the Holocaust and its representation. Richter transferred four historical photographs, secretly taken at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, onto canvas before obscuring them with layers of paint. With each layer, the images’ representational content was erased, transforming the loss of visual memory into a subject of artistic inquiry. A four-part large mirror placed opposite the works invites viewers into a space of both physical and intellectual reflection.
Other Works
Beyond Birkenau, the exhibition includes significant pieces from various periods of Richter’s career:
- Squatters’ House (1989)
- 6 Standing Panes (2002)
- 4,900 Colours (2007)
Additionally, a wide selection from Richter’s striking overpainted photographs series, where he intervenes with paint layers over found photographs, is presented to the audience.
This exhibition vividly showcases the evolution of Richter’s artistic practice and his complex relationship with history and memory.
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