Nicholas Serota – författare

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) is one of the leading figures of modern art. His unparalleled cut-outs are among the most significant of any artist’s late works. When ill health first prevented Matisse from painting, he began to cut into painted paper with scissors as his primary technique to make maquettes for a number of commissions, from books and stained glass window designs to tapestries and ceramics. Taking the form of a ‘studio diary’, the catalogue re-examines the cut-outs in terms of the methods and materials that Matisse used, and looks at the tensions in the works between finish and process; fine art and decoration; contemplation and utility; and drawing and colour.

Gerhard Richter describes himself as a "classical painter," and the exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris aims to showcase the complete evolution of his career, spanning over six decades. It will highlight both the continuities and disruptions in his work, which includes not only painting but also exquisite drawings, over-painted photographs, and sculptures. Located in Frank Gehry's iconic building in Bois de Boulogne, the exhibition will be organised chronologically, allowing visitors to appreciate the unique characteristics of each piece. Trained in Dresden, Richter is interested in historical genres of painting and seeks to reinterpret them in the context of contemporary times, revealing beauty and ethical issues through seemingly conventional subjects. He has also explored various painting techniques, creating works that range from quiet and refined to those bursting with energy, reflecting his physical engagement in the creative process.

How do we see art? How is it displayed? One hundred years ago, art was shown in a way intended to educate. Galleries reflected the curator’s view of history at the expense of differing opinions. Today, not only do museums and galleries celebrate these differences of expression, they also welcome the collaboration of living artists, promoting an active dialogue between the present and the past. Galleries and museums are no longer just repositories. They are sites of experience where the mind is often engaged as much as the eye. Here, Nicholas Serota presents a coherent historical account of changing attitudes to the way art is presented in the modern museum, examining the relationship between the artist, the public and the curator. He takes us into the artist's studio - itself a paradigm of display - and then on a knowledgeable and wide-ranging international tour of museums, galleries and installations, offering authoritative insights into the ways in which the display of art is likely to develop in the 21st century.

Gerhard Richter is widely regarded as one of the most important painters at work today. He is as well known for his figurative works as he is for his abstract paintings, often combining elements of both in ground-breaking ways.Gerhard Richter: Panorama is the first and most complete overview of Richter's whole career. Where previous monographs have focused on a single aspect of his work, this stunningly illustrated survey encompasses his entire oeuvre, now stretching across more than a half-century of activity. It includes his photo-paintings, abstracts, landscapes and seascapes, portraits, colour charts, glass and mirror works, sculptures, drawings and photographs, providing the definitive account of Richter's colossal artistic achievements. Alongside his celebrated abstractions, early black-and-white paintings and the photorealist depictions of candles, skulls and clouds that have become indisputable icons of modern painting, this new edition of Panorama includes over forty paintings made between 2000 and 2015, studio photographs and archival images, alongside texts by an array of international critics and curators.With more than 300 illustrations, and an interview with the artist by Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, this landmark publication remains the most comprehensive survey of one of the world's most pre-eminent contemporary artists.