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Press Information published by the International Auschwitz Committee

09.02.2022

Gerhard Richter turns 90

 
 
Richter based his Birkenau Cycle on four black-and-white photos that were taken secretly by a prisoner and then smuggled out of Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. Image: imago/Robert Michael

Richter based his Birkenau Cycle on four black-and-white photos that were taken secretly by a prisoner and then smuggled out of Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. Image: imago/Robert Michael

 

 

 

On the occasion of Gerhard Richter’s 90th birthday Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee congratulated the artist as follows:

"Auschwitz survivors are sending their best wishes and saying thank-you to Gerhard Richter on his 90th birthday for his work and the world he has created through his dauntless and insightful confrontation with his memories, perceptions and emotions. They are especially moved by his Birkenau Paintings that will remain on the walls of history forever. With his pictures Richter has also created a lasting monument to the courage of those prisoners in the special unit who managed to secretly photograph the murder and burning of the Jewish victims and families. For this reason the survivors see Gerhard Richter’s pictures not only as a sign of empathy with them and all of the people murdered in Auschwitz, but also as evidence that the artistic focus and concern with what happened in Auschwitz will never end.

The survivors of Auschwitz are grateful to Gerhard Richter for his lasting gesture when he presented an edition of his Birkenau Cycle to the International Auschwitz Committee for which a dedicated exhibition hall will be built in the grounds of the International Youth Meeting Center in Oswiecim/Auschwitz. The hall will be four kilometres away from the place in Birkenau camp, where the prisoners took the original photographs that resulted in Gerhard Richter’s paintings.”

 
 
 

For further Information

Christoph Heubner

Executive Vice President
International Auschwitz Committee
Phone ++ 49 (0)30 26 39 26 81