#Gagosian Premieres

[justforbooks]

Who was Lee Miller?

Why the model-turned-war photographer is finally getting her due

A surrealist with an incisive eye, finding the beauty and absurdity of everyday life. A model who posed for Vogue and sat for Pablo Picasso and Man Ray, but whose fashion career was suddenly cut short. A war photographer who embedded with the US military to chronicle the harrowing events of World War II — and posed defiantly in Hitler’s bathtub on the day of his death.

Lee Miller was an American artist who remade herself many times without straying from the principles that guided her life and career. When she died in 1977, her photographic work had largely been forgotten; her own family was unaware of the scope of her practice, and what she witnessed in the war, until they found her cache of negatives. Now, five decades later, she’s the subject of the Kate Winslet-led biopic “Lee,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, as well as a recent monograph of her work and an exhibition at mega-gallery Gagosian in New York, where some of her prints were for sale.

Her son, photographer Antony Penrose — whose father was the British surrealist painter Roland Penrose, whom Miller married in 1947 — has made it his life’s work to bring attention to his mother’s legacy. He co-directs her archive with his daughter, Ami Bouhassane, and has authored multiple books about Miller, including the most recent, “Lee Miller: Photographs.” For the past decade, he’s consulted on “Lee” as it came together, and has finally begun its run in both the United Kingdom and Spain.

“There were movies proposed and very nearly made before,” Penrose said. “This is the one that we’ve been waiting for, because I feel it is a brilliant rendition of Lee’s life, values and personality.”

He still recalls how “bewildering” it was when he and his late wife, Suzanna, found some 60,000 of her negatives and prints in their attic shortly after Miller’s death. She had developed a unique surrealist way of looking at the world, capturing everyday eccentricities that play with the viewer’s perception: a scratched-up door at a jewelry store becomes a small explosion of sparks; tar spilled on the street glistens darkly like some deep-sea or cave-bound creature.

But her range was staggering. Here was Elsa Schiaparelli supine among two cheetah sculptures, and Marlene Dietrich posing in dramatic sun in the designer’s ruched house coat. Here was a crowd of people spitting on four women, their heads shaved, as they went to trial for accusations of associating with Nazis. Here were the bodies of concentration camp victims in Dachau, and the liberated prisoners standing over a pile of human bones.

“None of us — and that includes my father — knew the scope of Lee’s work, particularly her war work,” Penrose said of his mother. “She deliberately didn’t tell him what was going on, because she didn’t want him to be worried.”

After the war, Miller struggled with depression and alcohol dependency, decades before post-traumatic stress disorder — and its symptoms — was officially recognized. When the occasional curator or art historian would turn up to better understand the depth of her work, Penrose said Miller would deflect the focus and downplay her career. It’s only been through her archive that he was able to understand the life she lived.

“It was a voyage of discovery,” Penrose added. “It was like finding a person that we had not known before — way beyond our kind of understanding and knowledge.”

Reinventing herself

For many years, Miller was remembered primarily for her modeling work in New York and with the reductive label of “muse” during her time in Paris. She sat for Pablo Picasso as he painted her in lurid yellow and green, illustrating her “extraordinary wit and liveliness… and a very bold, confrontational approach to life,” according to Jason Ysenburg, a director at Gagosian and co-curator of the gallery’s show “Lee Miller and Friends”.

She was also often remembered — but not credited — for her portrait collaborations with Man Ray, with whom she was romantically involved and remained friends throughout her life.

“Those images of Lee were as much by Lee as by Man Ray,” added Richard Calvocoressi, the show’s other co-curator.

Miller has been described by many as a supermodel on the cusp in her early twenties, a period just before she met Man Ray. But she was seemingly blacklisted by fashion clients overnight, after a portrait of her by the photographer Edward Steichen was licensed for a Kotex ad promoting menstrual products.

“She absolutely came to a crash stop. Nobody wanted the Kotex girl modeling their frocks,” Penrose said. “She didn’t even know that the photograph was going to be used for that purpose — it was bought through an agency.”

Though Miller used the setback as a sign to shift her practice, sexist social structures continued to shape her career. Art historians and curators of the 20th century relegated female surrealists — many of whom appear in Miller’s images, like the painter Leonora Carrington and the photographer Dora Maar — to the sidelines of the movement when they were, in actuality, crucial figures; Penrose recalls that his own father referred to them more as “muses” than artists in their own right, despite their prolific outputs.

But despite the imbalances within their group, Miller’s time with her friends ahead of World War II was seemingly idyllic. She’d left Paris in 1932 for New York when her relationship with Man Ray ended, and then unexpectedly married Egyptian businessman Aziz Eloui Bey and moved to Cairo. When she spent the summer of 1937 back in Paris and met Roland, it sparked a two-year affair (and series of love letters when they were apart), that eventually resulted in the dissolution of her marriage.

Some of Miller’s emblematic images of the period show their vacations across the south of France from beach outings with Roland, Picasso and Maar and the model Ady Fidelin, to a picnic that has drawn comparisons to Édouard Manet’s famed painting “Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe” as a topless Fidelin is pictured alongside Man Ray, the poet Paul Éluard and artist Nusch Éluard.

But as Ysenburg points out, the tumult of the era had already begun — Nazism brewed in Germany and the Spanish Civil War broke out, prompting Picasso’s monumental and career-defining work “Guernica” which was painted the same year Miller returned to Paris.

“It was a community that in the sense that they were friends and lovers,” Ysenburg explained. “It seemed a very carefree time for them in a world that was changing very quickly.”

She saw ‘what we’re missing’

Many artists fled Europe in the 1940s, and Miller could have gone back to New York to safety, Penrose said. But she’d settled down with Roland in London and refused to leave, instead becoming a photojournalist for British Vogue, documenting women who were contributing to the war efforts, and taking both fashion and street images during the Blitz.

Later, she was accredited as an official correspondent with the US armed forces — one of just four such female photographers. During this period, in Normandy and in Munich she worked closely with the Life photojournalist David E. Scherman. Together, they entered Hitler’s apartment with soldiers on April 30, 1945, the same day that Hitler shot himself in his bunker in Berlin. Just that morning, Miller and Scherman had taken photographs in Dachau; Miller tracked mud from the concentration camp all over the apartment’s floor before stripping down to pose in the bathtub. She took the same photo of Scherman, who was Jewish, as well.

“Those boots carried her that morning around the concentration camp, and now she’s grinding the filth of that place into Hitler’s nice clean bathroom,” Penrose said. “They prove that she’s not there as a guest in his house. She’s a victor.”

Even as Miller faced the harrowing effects of the war across Europe — sights that would take a toll on her in its aftermath — she still maintained her keen artist’s eye. After all, she believed there was nothing “more surrealist, more mad, more nightmarish” than the war, according to Calvocoressi.

“Even in the most dangerous and demanding circumstances, she’s still looking out for weird, quirky images,” Penrose said. “I find that that so endearing — the hallmark of her artistry is just to see what we’re missing.”

Miller took her last assignment for Vogue in the early 1950s, as Penrose notes that she could no longer meet deadlines because of her declining mental health. But she didn’t stop photographing, taking some 1,000 photographs of Picasso as Roland worked on his biography, which published in 1958.

Penrose said that throughout the course of her career, she was always “looking for the metaphor” in her surroundings. Of the many poetic moments she captured, one took place in front of the Vienna Opera House in Austria’s capital in late 1945 amid the lingering destruction of war. Framed by twisted metal support beams and rubble, the soprano Irmgard Seefried is photographed singing an aria from the Italian opera “Madame Butterfly,” in what Penrose believes to be an image set up by Miller — who captured her with arms outstretched, completely in silhouette.

“In a way, it’s a reversal, because you would have expected the singer to be beautifully lit from all kinds of sources.” Penrose explained.

“Gone is the costume. gone is any kind of glamorization… what we have is this absolute passion, about the triumph of art over destruction.”

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[onetwofeb]

John Zorn and Bill Laswell: TURBINES | Sessions | Gagosian Premieres

[donaldmckenzie]

Alice Smith: I Put a Spell on You | Sessions | Gagosian Premieres

[jetvenue]

Venues in LA for Art Exhibitions and Gallery Events

Los Angeles (LA) is a vibrant hub for art and culture, boasting a rich diversity of venues perfect for hosting art exhibitions and gallery events. Whether you're a local artist looking to showcase your work or an event organizer planning a memorable art experience, LA offers a range of unique spaces to suit your needs. In this guide, we'll highlight top venues in LA for art exhibitions and gallery events, providing valuable insights for both artists and event planners.

The Broad

Located in Downtown LA, The Broad is a contemporary art museum renowned for its extensive collection of modern artworks. The museum's striking architecture, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, serves as a captivating backdrop for art exhibitions and events. The versatile event spaces within The Broad offer opportunities for immersive art experiences, making it an ideal venue for showcasing contemporary artworks and engaging with art enthusiasts.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

As one of the largest art museums in the western United States, LACMA is a premier destination for art lovers and event organizers alike. The museum's diverse collection spans centuries and cultures, providing a dynamic backdrop for art exhibitions and cultural events. With indoor and outdoor event spaces available, including the iconic Urban Light installation by Chris Burden, LACMA offers a unique blend of art and ambiance for memorable gallery events.

Hauser & Wirth

Nestled in the Arts District of Downtown LA, Hauser & Wirth is a contemporary art gallery known for its innovative exhibitions and immersive art experiences. The gallery's expansive spaces, including indoor galleries and outdoor courtyards, provide versatility for showcasing a wide range of artistic expressions. Hauser & Wirth's commitment to supporting emerging and established artists makes it a compelling choice for hosting art exhibitions and engaging audiences in meaningful art dialogues.

Gagosian Gallery

With multiple locations worldwide, Gagosian Gallery represents some of the most influential artists of our time. The LA location, situated in Beverly Hills, offers a sophisticated setting for art exhibitions and private events. The gallery's curated spaces and professional staff ensure a seamless experience for artists and event planners, allowing artworks to shine in a prestigious environment conducive to art appreciation and networking.

The Getty Center

Perched atop the hills of Brentwood, The Getty Center combines art, architecture, and breathtaking views of Los Angeles. The museum's extensive art collection, ranging from classical to contemporary works, provides a captivating backdrop for art exhibitions and cultural events. The Getty Center's landscaped gardens, open-air terraces, and indoor galleries offer versatile spaces for hosting memorable gallery events with a touch of elegance and natural beauty.

Elevate Your Art Experience with JetsetVenue

LA's diverse and dynamic art scene offers an array of venues for art exhibitions and gallery events, catering to the creative vision of artists and the logistical needs of event planners. Whether you prefer the contemporary ambiance of The Broad, the cultural richness of LACMA, or the innovative spaces of Hauser & Wirth, there's a perfect venue in LA to elevate your art experience. Contact JetsetVenue today to discover exclusive event spaces and comprehensive event planning services tailored to your artistic aspirations.

[praegerdesign]

John Zorn and Bill Laswell: TURBINES | Sessions | Gagosian Premieres

[fabceci]

John Zorn and Bill Laswell: TURBINES | Sessions | Gagosian Premieres

[bongorama]

John Zorn and Bill Laswell: TURBINES | Sessions | Gagosian Premieres

As part of Sessions, a spin-off of Gagosian Premieres, composer and saxophonist John Zorn and bass guitarist and producer Bill Laswell perform an improvised work in Sterling Ruby’s exhibition “TURBINES,” at Gagosian, 522 West 21st Street, New York. Zorn is celebrated for his experimental approaches to composition and improvisation in forms ranging from classical, jazz, and ambient music to rock,…

[gagosiangallery]

Watch the Trailer—Gerhard Richter on Gagosian Premieres

June 5, 2021

GAGOSIAN PREMIERES: GERHARD RICHTER Featuring Hans Ulrich Obrist, Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener, and Patti Smith

__________ Tuesday, June 8, 2021, 2pm EDT The seventh episode of Gagosian Premieres celebrates Gerhard Richter: Cage Paintings—an exhibition presented at Gagosian New York and Beverly Hills—with a musical performance and reading by Patti Smith, new choreography created and performed by Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener in response to the Gerhard Richter’s work, and commentaries by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Richard Calvocoressi. Watch the Trailer

[jordi-gali]

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A post shared by Gagosian (@gagosian)

Gerhard Richter

In a new piece for "Gagosian Quarterly," dance artists Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener join art and dance historian Megan Metcalf in a conversation about dancing with Gerhard Richter paintings, their evolving relationship to language, and hidden “Easter eggs” in their work. Their performance, pictured here, features in Richter's episode of Gagosian Premieres. Follow the link in our bio to read the article or to watch the full episode.

[lou-hayter]

Lou Hayter is a London-based musician, DJ and musical director. She has been a recognisable face on the London music scene since the mid-noughties, when she rose to prominence as part of the Mercury-nominated electro-pop band, New Young Pony Club. Since then, she has maintained a presence at the always-evolving intersection between music and fashion, building a reputation as a DJ as comfortable at peak-time in the basement of XOYO as at the launches of some of the world’s most desirable brands (Chanel, Miu Miu, Chloe and Paul Smith all have Hayter on their books). Since departing NYPC at the beginning of the decade, Hayter’s musical endeavours have rarely slowed down. As well as a three year stint as Musical Director for the British Fashion Awards, she has formed band partnerships with JB Dunckel of the seminal French band Air as Tomorrow's World, and Nick Phillips as The New Sins, while continuing her all-vinyl residency at London’s Chiltern Firehouse. Having signed to Skint / BMG records last year in anticipation of her debut solo LP in 2021, Hayter has been dripping singles like honey across the past few years, earning radio play on 6 Music and Radio 1 and 2 alike. A third single, ‘Private Sunshine’, has just emerged mid-winter, following ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ and ‘Cherry On Top’, blissful earworms of glorious off-kilter pop music, timeless but forward-thinking at once. "The style world's favourite DJ" - EVENING STANDARD "A multi-talented musician, model and DJ extraordinaire" - DAZED DIGITAL “She may be a reluctant (Jane) Birkin, but in Tomorrow’s World, Lou Hayter burns bright” - WONDERLAND Recent DJ Highlights Chanel No 5 Red London launch, UK Premier of Pedro Alomodovar's "Pain and Glory" at Somerset House, Netflix party for 'Roma' at the 2019 BAFTA awards, Noel Gallagher's 50th birthday party, Damian Hirst "Treasure of the Wreck of the Unbelievable" opening in Venice, Kylie Minogue's 50th at Chiltern Firehouse. Christian Louboutin's Loubi Express at Claridges, London. Client List Fashion - Alexander McQueen, Adidas, Alexa Chung for AG Jeans, Belstaff, Bella Freud, The British Fashion Awards, Chanel, Chloe, Charlotte Olympia, Chopard, Christian Louboutin, Cos, Hussein Chalayan, H&M, Diesel, DKNY, The Elle Style Awards, Erdem, Frame Denim, Halston Ultrasuede premier, Hugo Boss, Issa, Jean Charles de Castelbajac, J Crew, J Lindeberg, Jaeger, Ji Won Chi, Georg Jensen, Kiehl's, H&M, Kurt Geiger, Kenzo, Levi's, LK Bennett, Louis Vuitton, Luxxotica, Mario Testino, Maxmara, Miu Miu, Michael Kors, Mulberry, Net-A-Porter, Nicholas Kirkwood, Paul & Joe, Paul Smith, Ray Ban, Selfridges, Tod's, Topshop, Tory Burch, Whistles, William Vintage, YSL Beauty Art and Lifestyle - Annabel's, Bafta Awards, The BBC, Blonstein Productions, Baileys Chocolat Lux, The Belvedere Hotel, Cannes Film Festival, The Chiltern Firehouse, Damien Hirst, Dazed and Confused, The Design Museum, Dover Street Arts Club, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Fran Cutler Associates, Facebook, Gagosian Gallery, Glastonbury festival, The Guardian Guide, Grey Goose, GHD, Hotel Sanders, Inception film premier, Lancome, Lanza Baucina, Liberty, Lou Lou's, Marina Abramovich, Minotti, Marie Claire, My Beautiful City, The National Gallery, Netflix, The Ned, The Official Olympics Party, Pedro Almodovar, Pernod, Rankin, Start Boutique, The Saatchi Gallery, The Serpentine Summer Ball, Sisley, The V&A, Vinyl Factory, Wallpaper* Magazine, The White Cube, Zaha Hadid Clubs Fabric, Xoyo, Turnmills, Razmattaz, The Nest, Kokos, Dalston Superstore, The End Contact: louhayter@gmail.com

[donaldmckenzie]

John Zorn and Bill Laswell: TURBINES | Sessions | Gagosian Premieres

[verocskakoschsartcorner]

//...Gregory Crewdson...// Gregory Crewdson is an American photographer best known for staging cinematic scenes of suburbia to dramatic effect. His surreal images are often melancholic or disturbing, offering ambiguous narrative suggestions and blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality, thanks to the artist’s painstaking preparation of elaborate sets, lighting, and cast, as seen in his seminal series Beneath the Roses (2003-2008). “My pictures are about a search for a moment—a perfect moment,” Crewdson has explained. Born on September 26, 1962 in Brooklyn, NY, the artist works with large production teams to scout and shoot his images. His work has been exhibited widely, notably including solo exhibitions at Gagosian Gallery in New York, the San Diego Museum of Art, and White Cube in London, among many others. A 1988 graduate of the Yale School of Art, he has served on its faculty since 1993 and is currently the director of its graduate studies in photography. In 2012, Ben Shapiro’s documentary Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, charting Crewdon’s harrowing photographic process from beginning to end. The artist lives and works in New York, NY. His works are held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York among others. via: artnet

[underthemusharchive]

Publish Date: Summer of 2008

Bi-Weekly TV show produces for Brooklyn’s Community Access Television (BCAT)

Music Producer, Chris Neptune

Under the Mush, Co-Founder Cassy interviews Under the Mush’s in-house producer, Chris Neptune. Neptune is a music producer based in New York. He studied Audio Engineering and Production at the Institute of Audio Research. From 2007- 2012, Neptune composed original instrumentals for the show’s introduction, and varied interview features on Under The Mush. His latest composition was featured in “Constructs and Context Relativity II,” an experimental short by Interdisciplinary Artist Christie Neptune. The film premiered at the Gagosian in 2021.

[ljzstudiez]

Visual Research

Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson | Featuring Malcolm Gladwell, Elvis Mitchell, and Jeff Tweedy | Gagosian Premieres

ALEX PRAEGAR

ANTOINE D'AGATA

[architectnews]

Frank Gehry Spinning Tales exhibition, Gagosian

Frank Gehry Spinning Tales, Gagosian exhibition Beverly Hills, Los Angeles Architect News, 2021 Talk

Frank Gehry: Spinning Tales exhibition at Gagosian

August 4, 2021

Gagosian Premieres

Frank Gehry: Spinning Tales exhibition at Gagosian, Beverly Hills

Featuring Gustavo Dudamel with YOLA, Julian Rose, and esperanza spalding

Thursday, August 5, 2021, 2pm EDT

gagosian.com/premieres

The eighth episode of Gagosian Premieres celebrates Frank Gehry: Spinning Tales—an exhibition of new work presented at Gagosian, Beverly Hills—featuring musical performances by esperanza spalding and Gustavo Dudamel and YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), and a conversation between Frank Gehry and Julian Rose conducted in Gehry’s Los Angeles studio.

esperanza spalding performing in Frank Gehry: Spinning Tales at Gagosian, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Southern California, USA: artwork © Frank O. Gehry

Marking the celebrated architect’s eighth exhibition with the gallery, Spinning Tales pairs large-scale elaborations on the Fish Lamps series with a new sculptural installation, Wishful Thinking (2021), based on the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. While Fish Lamps is an independent body of work, the “perfect form” of the creature from which it takes its name reappears throughout Gehry’s architectural oeuvre as a key inspiration for his own formal and technical innovations. Similarly, the creased surfaces of Wishful Thinking’s figures establish a visual connection with some of Gehry’s best-known buildings.

In this episode, acclaimed jazz bassist, singer, and songwriter esperanza spalding plays a new original score in an improvised performance in the gallery. The music’s sinuous, free-flowing quality echoes the piscine forms on view. spalding has collaborated with Gehry previously, and they are currently working together on Iphigenia, a new opera inspired by the Greek mythological figure.

Gehry has been involved with the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1970. The Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, which houses the orchestra today, opened in 2003, while the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center at Inglewood, which Gehry designed as YOLA’s first permanent, purpose-built facility, will open in September 2021. Launched in 2007, the YOLA program has democratized music education for students aged 5 to 18 from LA neighborhoods. It currently supports more than 1,300 young musicians across four sites, providing them with free instruments, music instruction, academic support, and leadership training, under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.

Dudamel, music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducts an ensemble of fifteen YOLA musicians. Surrounded by Gehry’s sculptures, they perform the first movement of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 3. And inside Gehry’s installation Wishful Thinking, YOLA cellist Natalie Aviña plays the gigue from the composer’s Suite for Solo Cello no. 2.

Architectural historian and critic Julian Rose visits Gehry in his studio to discuss the making of the recent artworks and their multivalent connections to his architectural practice, while Tomas Osinski, Sophie Lauriault, and Tae Park—all close collaborators on the production of Gehry’s projects—offer a tour of the architect’s studio, sharing their insights into the technical and procedural complexities of his practice.

Watch Frank Gehry: Spinning Tales trailer here:

Gagosian Premieres

Gagosian Premieres aims to approximate for our audiences the sense of occasion usually associated with our physical gallery openings and events. Each exclusively online event is created in close collaboration with the artist and is shaped around his or her gallery exhibition. Among the contributors are some of the most widely respected voices from the worlds of contemporary literature, music, entertainment, film, and, of course, art.

Gagosian Premieres is available on YouTube and the Gagosian website. To watch past episodes and sign up for updates, visit gagosian.com/pr

#GagosianPremieres

Frank Gehry: Spinning Tales exhibition at Gagosian, Beverly Hills, images / information received 040821

L.A. Architecture Designs – chronological list

Website: University of California Santa Barbara Clocks and Clouds: The Architecture of Escher GuneWardena Exhibition

Location: Art, Design & Architecture Museum, UC Santa Barbara, USA

Los Angeles, Southern California, United States of America

Los Angeles Buildings

Contemporary Los Angeles Architecture

L.A. Architecture Designs – chronological list

Los Angeles Architecture Designs

Los Angeles Construction Photographs photo © Kenneth Johansson Photography Los Angeles Construction Photos

New designs for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art image courtesy of architects Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Los Angeles

Mirror House in Beverly Hills Architects: XTEN Architecture photo : Art Gray Mirror House in Beverly Hills

Los Angeles Architect Studios

Los Angeles Architecture Tours – architectural walks by e-architect

American Architects

American Architecture

California Architecture Exhibitions

Clocks and Clouds: The Architecture of Escher GuneWardena, Isla Vista – campus of the UCSB in Goleta, California, United States of America photo : Josh White University of California Santa Barbara Exhibitions

SCI-Arc Architecture Events SCI-Arc Architecture Events

Drawing Show Exhibition, A+D Museum Drawing Show Exhibition at A+D Museum Los Angeles

L.A. in Wien / Wien in L.A., SCI-Arc SCI-Arc Exhibition : L.A. in Wien / Wien in L.A.

New Gagosian Gallery Mayfair, London

Comments / photos for the Frank Gehry: Spinning Tales exhibition at Gagosian, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, USA page welcome

The post Frank Gehry Spinning Tales exhibition, Gagosian appeared first on e-architect.

[gagosiangallery]

Coming Soon—Gerhard Richter on Gagosian Premieres

June 3, 2021

Gagosian Premieres GERHARD RICHTER Featuring Hans Ulrich Obrist, Rashaun Mitchen + Silas Riener, and Patti Smith

Tuesday, June 8, 2021, 2pm EDT gagosian.com/premieres __________ The seventh episode of Gagosian Premieres celebrates Gerhard Richter: Cage Paintings—an exhibition presented at Gagosian New York and Beverly Hills—with a musical performance and reading by Patti Smith, new choreography created and performed by Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener in response to the artist’s work, and commentaries by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Richard Calvocoressi. Throughout his career, Richter has approached abstraction with characteristic rigor, employing varying combinations of process and chance to produce works that range from austere monochromes to richly chromatic compositions. The six large-scale Cage paintings (2006) are made by using a broad squeegee to drag paint from one side of the canvas to the other. They are titled after influential composer, artist, and philosopher John Cage (1912–1992), whose pursuit of indeterminacy in music—reflected in his use of chance operations as compositional tools—resonates with Richter, who has compared his own process to the act of arranging a score. In a special performance filmed at the gallery in New York, Patti Smith—accompanied by guitarist Tony Shanahan—sings “Wing” from her 1996 album Gone Again; she also expresses her admiration for Richter and the inherent musicality of his works in spoken reflections on the exhibition, and reads excerpts from Cage’s text “Lecture on Nothing” (1959), in which the composer describes his move toward a more experimental methodology. Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener, who previously worked together in the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, perform their own new choreography in the exhibition space, tracing the connections between Richter, Cage, and Cunningham. The pair, whose collaborative work addresses the ways in which abstraction and representation coincide in the body, dance to “Experiences No. 2” (1948) by Cage, which was composed using the rhythmic structure of a dance by Cunningham. This work is choreographed in relation to the context and will never be performed again. In his commentary on the exhibition, art historian and Gagosian director Richard Calvocoressi discusses the Cage paintings’ formal qualities, explaining how Richter’s use of the squeegee reveals layers of color in a way that evokes, among many other areas of visual perception, the fragmented imagery of torn billboard posters. He also talks about their connection to the drawings on view—specifically to their dependence on erasure—and the essential mystery of Richter’s project as a whole. Finally, Hans Ulrich Obrist, director of the Serpentine Galleries, London, describes how Richter’s paintings and drawings take different routes to achieve formal multidimensionality. He remembers his initial encounter with the Cage paintings at the artist’s studio in 2007 as being like witnessing “an apparition.” “It was immediately clear to me,” he recalls, “that this was one of the greatest cycles of paintings that Gerhard had ever done.”

Gagosian Premieres Gagosian Premieres aims to approximate for our audiences the sense of occasion usually associated with our physical gallery openings and events. Each exclusively online event is created in response to the artist’s work and is shaped around his or her gallery exhibition. Among the contributors are some of the most widely respected voices from the worlds of contemporary literature, music, entertainment, film, and, of course, art. Gagosian Premieres is available on YouTube and the Gagosian website. To watch past episodes and sign up for updates, visit gagosian.com/premieres. _____ Patti Smith and Tony Shanahan in Gerhard Richter: Cage Paintings at Gagosian, 541 West 24th Street, New York. Artwork © Gerhard Richter