Gerhard Richter - A German art legend on display in Australia

Gerhard Richter is a household name in the art world. His art is as diverse as it is unique and his paintings are worth millions. A new exhibition in Brisbane hopes to turn more Australians into Richter fans.

Head of the Gerhard Richter Archive in Germany visits Australia for opening of Gerhard Richter exhibition. Source: QAGOMA

The 'Guardian' once called him the "Picasso of the 21st Century", German media refers to him as the "Über-painter". Today, Gerhard Richter has become a phenomenon in the world of arts, as he has not only produced a vast collection of paintings over five decades, but he is also considered the most expensive living painter, with his work "Abstraktes Bild" selling for more than 60 million AUS Dollars in 2015.

Head of the Gerhard Richter Archive in Germany visits Australia for opening of Gerhard Richter exhibition. Source: Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter's life is a reflection of German history

Gerhard Richter was born just before the Nazis ceased power in Germany. After the end of WW II, Richter started studying art among the rubble of bombed out Dresden. In 1961, the year the Berlin Wall was erected, Richter fled the communist East to start again and equipped with more artistic freedom in Düsseldorf, West Germany.

Gallery of Modern ArtGerhard Richter: The Life of Images. Source: QAGOMA

‘Gerhard Richter: The Life of Images’ is the first major Australian exhibition of the German artist and the largest one of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art has mustered the exhibition pieces from public and private collections in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. including the artist’s own collection.

The Gerhard Richter Atlas gives visitors an insight into the thoughts and motivation behind the art. Source: Oliver Heuthe

The head of the Gerhard Richter Archive in Dresden, Dr Dietmar Elger confirms that some of the artworks are from the artist’s own collection. Elger passed on Richter's regards while explaining that, due to his age of 85, the octogenarian was not able to actually attend the opening in far-away Brisbane.

Dr Dietmar Elger opens the 'Life of Images' exhibition at QAGOMA in Brisbane. Source: Oliver Heuthe

"For Richter, painting is a method of apprehending, understanding and interpreting Germany's national trauma" says Chris Saines, Director of the Queensland Art Gallery. Richter expert Dietmar Elger confirms that Richter's war memories and the impact it had on some of his family members have been a re-occurring theme and influence in his work, especially when considering that he started art school in Dresden only a few years after the war.

Richter's photographic painting style makes you look twice, to ensure that you are standing in front of an actual painting.

A rare self-portrait of Richter from 2009. His photographic painting style makes you look twice. Source: QAGOMA

More information about the exhibition can be found on the QAGOMA website.

disclaimer: Oliver Heuthe travelled to the exhibition opening as a guest of QAGOMA.