Arnulf Rainer

Dear Friends of the Gallery,

Arnulf Rainer passed away on December 18, ten days after his 96th birthday. Most of you are familiar with his biography and the obituaries published in the media. Perhaps you have also watched one or two films about him by now. Allow me to share a few personal words with you here.

I have been engaging with his work for over twenty years. I had the privilege of meeting him in person, of asking him questions, of listening to him—with great respect. With this same respect, I have engaged with his work, and it was always an engagement in the truest sense. I have learned, and I am still learning. Everything is contained within his work. It opens a door to being human. His legacy offers the opportunity to look—and to truly see. If one has the strength to engage with his work, it allows you in. It fills you with a deep sense of fulfillment. Like looking into a mirror, one finds oneself there when opening one’s eyes.

I know this may sound pathetical and exaggerated. Of course, his work can also be analyzed, contextualized, and viewed soberly. That is possible—and that too is a pleasure. It fits. It has inscribed itself into art history. Yet it is that spark that can leap across which bound me to it and made me a worthy viewer. A universe opens up.

This magic is a gift, and I think of Arnulf Rainer with deep gratitude.
Christa Armann

We bid farewell in mourning, and our thoughts are with his family. Arnulf Rainer is a great master and, in this sense, immortal.
Richard Ruberl