Art Hag

Born in Dresden, Germany in 1932, Gerhard Richter's career in painting spans almost 50 years. Early on the artist decided "that paintings should focus on the image rather than the reference, the visual rather than the statement. He wanted to find a new way of painting that would not be constricting," (from the artist's website). "Unlike American artists Richter wasn't interested in the purity of art. Idealism had disillusioned him from an early age. Instead he painted images without glory; images that rendered the ridiculous, ordinary; the tragic, ordinary; the beautiful, ordinary. Throughout his career Richter has shrunk from giving a psychological insight into his art, leaving his admirers and critics guessing and at times confused. According to him, his work forms from structures and ideas that surround him, nothing more profound than that."

His current show, Abstract Paintings, 2009, at Marian Goodman's Upper East Side gallery is "a major representation of works made by the artist from 2005 to the present, including an important new cycle of paintings titled Sindbad, 2008 as well as individual paintings presenting medium to large format abstractions, and a new group of large scale near-monochrome paintings whose underlying chromatic structures are layered by translucent veils of white paint," (from the exhibit's press release).

The show is truly incredible and offers several abstracts in various styles. Upon entering, you are met by a handful of massive white paintings that feature subtle hints of color peeking out from under tiny cracks in the white surface. While these paintings may initially appear bland from a distance, when you get closer to them you sort of want to scratch away at them to see what else they reveal underneath their serene and cold facades. The following rooms offer up a number of amazing colorful abstractions that exude mood and energy. For me, many of the canvases possess a tense almost aggressive feel to them. They sort of feel like a calm before a storm, precursors to something that's been simmering and waiting to explode. Judge for yourself with my pics below. Contrary to Richter's own description of his paintings, these works are far from "ordinary." They are truly stunning.

Learn more at Mariangoodman.com. Check out Richter's website at Gerhard-Richter.com. Through January 9, 2010 (**note Marian Goodman Gallery will be closed from Dec. 25 - Jan. 3rd).

912-1 Abstract Painting, 2009