Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richteris a German visual artist. Richter has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, and also photographs and glass pieces. His art follows the examples of Picasso and Jean Arp in undermining the concept of the artist's obligation to maintain a single cohesive style...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth9 February 1932
CountryGermany
firsts photograph artificial
To make a photograph is already the first artificial act.
information painting murder
The photograph is the only picture that can truly convey information, even if it is technically faulty and the object can barely be identified. A painting of a murder is of no interest whatever; but a photograph of a murder fascinates everyone.
photography reality next
I don't mistrust reality, of which I know next to nothing. I mistrust the picture of reality conveyed to us by our senses, which is imperfect and circumscribed.
communication form
Without form, communication stops... without form, you have everybody burbling on to themselves, whenever and however, things that no one else can understand and - rightly - no one else is interested in.
full opposite
Every museum is full of nice things. That's the opposite of before. It was important things or serious things. Now we have interesting things.
absent gray
Gray is the color... the most important of all... absent of opinion, nothing, neither/nor.
concepts conducive lead names qualities success themes time variations
I have no time for specialized concerns, working themes or variations that lead to mastery... I like the indefinite, the boundless; I like continual uncertainty. Other qualities may be more conducive to achievement, publicity, success; but they are all outworn - as outworn as ideologies, opinions, concepts and names for things.
built formed history
It's our culture, Christian history, that's what formed me. Even as an atheist, I believe. We're just built that way.
created dare great paintings understand work
I don't dare to think my paintings are great. I can't understand the arrogance of someone saying, 'I have created a big, important work.'
worse
I don't think I can do this - painting under observation. It's the worst thing there is, worse than being in the hospital.
people
Now that we do not have priests and philosophers any more, artists are the most important people in the world.
condition destroying smear
When I begin, theoretically and practically I can smear anything I want on the canvas. Then there's a condition I have to react to, by changing it or destroying it.
family painted
I have painted my family so frequently because they are the one who really affect me the most.
eight paperwork
I have always been structured. What has changed is the proportions. Now it is eight hours of paperwork and one of painting.