GERHARD RICHTER. TEXTES
HANS ULRICH OBRIST
Although Richter has expressed himself both orally and on paper on numerous accounts, until now he has always remained reserved about the publication of texts. Aside from myriad interviews, only a few fragments of isolated texts have been published here and there. In Textes, there are not only notes and extracts from his journal, but also essays, letters, declarations, manifestos, stands taken, interviews, conversations and dialogues to discover. Richters written notes accompany the act of painting; they raise questions and are occasionally subjected to self correction. Instead of expected, explicit text, what springs forth is synchronous thought and deep reflexion of self as the prolongation of doubt.
Richter, like no other contemporary artist, questions the possible and the impossible as well as the function and the autonomy of art today.