Gerhard Richter 4900 Colours: Version II consists of 49 paintings, each made up of 100 coloured glass squares. Each panel is 97 x 97cm. The venue is an open-planned space in four parts, and it's mainly lit by daylight. The Serpentine Gallery is set in the middle of a park, so daylight is plentiful. It's a huge bonus to this exhibition, giving a lively rendering to the bold colours used by the artist. Bearing in mind the similar format of the 49 works, there's a moment of wondering what order the work is hung in - if any - when first entering the space. In fact there is no correct order: each variation is unique and can easily stand alone. The small single-coloured squares arranged in grid formation create individual sheets of kaleidoscope colour. A die was apparently rolled to determine the placing and orientation of each panel; and a specially-developed computer programme produced the colour and design of the exhibition. Gerhard Richter is quoted as saying: 'They are the only paintings that tell no story.' Perhaps there's a temptation to try and find one. Alternatively, the works can simply be enjoyed, rather than wondering whether they are simply random blocks painted with no purpose and no meaning. Perhaps if these questions come to mind, the artist has done his job.

Artist Credits: Artist - Gerhard Richter (b 1932). Materials - Enamel paint on Aludibond.

Company Credits: Works are from - La Collection de la Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la création. Sponsors - thenod.com, La Collection de la Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la création, LVMH (lvmh.com). Media Partners - Art Review, London Review of Books. Gallery - Serpentine Gallery: Supporters - Arts Council England, City of Westminster, The Royal Parks. Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA, T 020 7402 6075, F 020 7402 4103, Recorded Information 020 7298 1515, information@serpentinegallery.org. Director, Serpentine Gallery and Co-Director, Exhibitions and Programmes - Julia Peyton-Jones. Co-Director, Exhibitions and Programmes and Director of International Projects - Hans Ulrich Obrist. Head of Press - Rose Dempsey. Gallery Assistants (alpha order): Jayne Archard, Victoria Burns, Andrew Johnson, Magnus Jorde, Jennifer Lapsley, Donna Marris, Robert Nicol, Rajesh Punj, Arthur Steward, Katarzyna Szydlowska, Gabriel Tejada, Gemma Walker, Duncan Wooldridge. Exhibition Assistant - Leila Hasham. Assistant to Gallery Manager - Darran Armstrong. Gallery Manager - Michael Gaughan. Exhibition Curator - Rebecca Morrill. Exhibition Curator - Kathryn Rattee.

END

(c) Rebecca Talbot 2008

reviewed Monday 13 October 08 / Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Park, London

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com