Strip, 2013/2016
Digital print on paper between Alu Dibond and Perspex (Diasec)
Four (4) panels, each: 78 3/4 x 98 3/8 inches (200 x 250 cm)
Overall: 78 3/4 x 393 3/4 inches (200 x 1000 cm)

Initial visit 31st January 2024

Strip, 2013/2016
detail

Aladin (Aladdin), 2010
Lacquer behind glass, mounted on Alu-Dibond
19 3/4 x 14 5/8 inches
50 x 37 cm

Abdallah (Abdallah), 2010
Lacquer behind glass, mounted on Alu-Dibond
6 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches
16 x 16 cm

Abstraktes Bild, Juist (Abstract Painting, Juist), 2011
Oil on canvas
32 1/4 x 24 3/8 inches (82 x 62 cm)

On Thursday 6th April 2023 I went to see a performance of the 2019 collaboration between Steve Reich and Gerhard Richter at The Royal Festival Hall in London.

It was quite a remarkable experience and so I was keen to see some of Richters paintings.
I will certainly re-visit this exhibition as I found the concern with 'extreme' detail to be of interest.

There is also a nervous energy with the Artist getting on with 'doing stuff' that I can identify with to a great extent.

The Lacquer works are quite fascinating but I wondered why they did not 'project' into the room more. I think that the tonal and colour ranges probably conspire in this and require a close-up viewing.

The large 'Strip' painting is somewhat disorientating and does require feet firmly planted on the ground to take in the full visual field.

I was working at the Whitechapel Art Gallery during the exhibition:- "Gerhard Richter: 14 March - 22 April 1979". I'll have to drum up some memories...

I usually held on to the gallery catalogues but do not have this one. The Artist's web site does have a visual listing of the works exhibited and it does look as if the late 70's was a turning point where the Artist's main focus came into view.

I do not have any strong recollection of the later works that were included in the exhibition.

A follow-up visit 19th March 2024.

I had been thinking about the 'Abstract Paintings' and on looking closely today I realised very quickly that they also are full of very localised detail which does not really project far. Every part of the paintings are 'beautifully figured' with the dragged paint. Stepping back, the detail is no longer visible and the painting appears only to be the product of the making process.

Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting), 2015
Oil on canvas
76 3/4 x 55 1/8 inches
195 x 140 cm

Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting), 2016
Oil on canvas
39 3/8 x 26 3/8 inches
100 x 67 cm

Looking around at the many small works again it seemed to me that there was a reliance on attention to the material detail in the way the paints mixed. Some of the drawn elements looked as if they might be casual doodles picking out the detail.

When I asked for a checklist at the reception desk I also asked if they were aware of the Reich/Richter performance at The Royal Festival Hall last Spring 6th April 2023...