markus lüpertz

The exhibition has been put together by the German artist Markus Lüpertz and Rudi Fuchs, director of the Stedelijk Museum, and is based on the selection of his work by the artist himself.

This is the first time that Lüpertz has been so intensively and personally involved in assembling an exhibition of his own work. The exhibition Markus Lüpertz comprises about 75 works from the period 1962 to date. The artist based his selection on the colours and materials which appear in the works, sometimes very subtly. A gallery is devoted to each colour or material, including the honour gallery. Works from throughout the whole period are to be seen in each gallery.

Markus Lüpertz has always been a controversial painter. He remained unconcerned with the many discussions that went on about what was or was not permissible in modern painting, and made work which cut across through all the conceptual and ideological positions. Rudi Fuchs's voice was also often to be heard in this debate. This exhibition in the Stedelijk demonstrates that Lüpertz is one of the great painters of our day. "Many echoes of the great tradition in painting are visible in his fascinating and compelling work", says Fuchs, "particularly the tradition of German painting, as it is developing in the heart of Europe in ever more dramatic ways."

The Markus Lüpertz exhibition is the second in a series of solo exhibitions by postwar German artists at the Stedelijk, which began at the end of 1996 with a great retrospective of the work of Imi Knoebel. Following Lüpertz in 1997 are (the sculptor) Ulrich Rückriem and Katharina Sieverding.

The Dutch/English catalogue Markus Lüpertz, written by Rudi Fuchs, will appear to accompany this exhibition. It is designed by Walter Nikkels. Published by the Stedelijk Museum, 1997, available in the museumshop.