The exhibition Gerhard Richter: 100 Works for Berlin at Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin shows for the first time the long-term loan from the Gerhard Richter Art Foundation to the Neue Nationalgalerie.
At its core is the Birkenau series (2014), featuring four large-scale abstract paintings. These stem from Richter’s deep exploration of the Holocaust and its artistic representation. The paintings originate from four photographs taken at Auschwitz-Birkenau, which Richter transferred onto canvases using charcoal and oil paint before gradually covering them with abstract layers. With each layer, the original imagery faded until it was no longer visible. A large four-part mirror, placed opposite the Birkenau canvases, adds a reflective dimension to the work.
In addition to the Birkenau series, the exhibition includes works from different stages of Richter’s career, such as Squatters’ House (1989), 4,900 Colors (2007), and Strip (2013/2016). It also showcases a significant collection of Richter’s overpainted photographs, which explore the interplay between photography and painting in a fresh way.
The display was created in close partnership with the artist. The exhibition is curated by Joachim Jäger and Maike Steinkamp and runs until September 2026.
Gerhard Richter: 100 Works for Berlin / Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin. Berlin (Germany), May 3, 2025.
At its core is the Birkenau series (2014), featuring four large-scale abstract paintings. These stem from Richter’s deep exploration of the Holocaust and its artistic representation. The paintings originate from four photographs taken at Auschwitz-Birkenau, which Richter transferred onto canvases using charcoal and oil paint before gradually covering them with abstract layers. With each layer, the original imagery faded until it was no longer visible. A large four-part mirror, placed opposite the Birkenau canvases, adds a reflective dimension to the work.
In addition to the Birkenau series, the exhibition includes works from different stages of Richter’s career, such as Squatters’ House (1989), 4,900 Colors (2007), and Strip (2013/2016). It also showcases a significant collection of Richter’s overpainted photographs, which explore the interplay between photography and painting in a fresh way.
The display was created in close partnership with the artist. The exhibition is curated by Joachim Jäger and Maike Steinkamp and runs until September 2026.
Gerhard Richter: 100 Works for Berlin / Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin. Berlin (Germany), May 3, 2025.
Category
🦄
CreativityTranscript
00:00You