Blog Essay
‘The long run’ exhibition in the MoMA is a large combination show containing more than 5 artists works during some period of time in their life. The pieces attracted me the most is a set of 15 images called ‘October 18, 1977’. The artist is a famous Germany artist Gerhard Richter born in the East German and moved to West German during the 1970s. Those 15 images are all black and white photograph-like paintings he painted during the time when Red Army Faction appeared.
Richter went fascinated about the photographs in NEWS and magazines. He used photos people took for the Red Army Faction(RAF) participants as an inspiration for his interpretation of this militant organization. The drawing on the left side was one of the painting in this set, ‘Jugendbildnis(youth portrait)’ (1988). The woman in this painting is one of the female terrorist group member in RAF. Her name is Ulrike Meinhof. An “politically active journalist before becoming one of the main protagonists of RAF”(web). As a matter of fact, the artist made Meinhof into a young lady than how she looked like at the time 1988. (Images below)
Richter’s skill in drawing still-life is extremely strong that people can have a straightforward eye contact with the person depicted in the image. From the blurry strokes he added when the oil paints weren’t dry out, the whole image looks soft and calm. This extreme calmness bring an ironic feeling when people learn the figure in this painting is actually a protagonists. By knowing the person itself and the context of the RAF, his theme of showing another angle for the terrorists to the audience is obvious.
Another two of his works I found appealing is “Zelle(cell)” in 1988 and “Gegenuberstellung 3(confrontation3)” at the same year. The painting with people’s right side figure is also a photograph-like painting depicting one of the member in RAF named Gudrun Ensslin. This woman is the intellectual leader for his far-left militant group. This painting is also the image when she was captured and took in prison. This painting for me is also an opposite feeling when thinking about Ensslin as one of the important member in this violent group. Actual picture of her are on the internet which looks totally different from artist’s hand.
Last but not least, the image I enjoyed the most is the painting with book shelf on the right and a coat hanging on the left. From the description of the painting online, it is mentioned that this painting is for another RAF leader called Andreas Baader. He committed suicide in his room in prison at 18 October 1977, which corresponded the title of these whole 15 paintings. The blurry image create an intense and shaking feeling of the whole environment Richter chose to draw from the inspiration of Baader’s prison photo shots in public(right picture). The bookshelf felt like to be fall over while the white walls and the coat looks like a people standing in the room. Everything seems unclear. However, really clear at the same time.
Gerhard Richter is the first artist in my knowledge who used images from other people to create his own kind of understanding with the photo as well as the issue itself. His experience of both East and West German life and his point of view in RAF is the biggest reason why he got those mindful paintings.