Andreas Gursky: Ruckblick

Interesting exhibition at White Cube, Bermondsey of a work by Andreas Gursky.

When I say exhibition in this case I mean one picture. But it was shown on its own in a room giving it a sense of gravitas. It was a large digital construct picture showing Angela Merkel and the three previous Chancellor’s of Germany from the back, sitting looking at a large, red painting by Barnett Newman which looked a bit like a Rothko. It felt like a modern history painting.

It had the feel of a hyper-real painting and I loved the smoke from a cigarette breaking up the red of the painting. In some ways it was a shame the surface was so reflective as it made it hard to see as a whole without also seeing the room however that also gave a sense that all of us in the gallery were also part of this scene.

Gursky also has an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery at the moment and I am really looking forward to seeing more of his work.

Closes 8 April 2018

 

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