Reihung
White paint on nails on wood
200 x 200 cm
In this work, Günther Uecker (b. in 1930) uses nails hammered into the surface and arranged, with precision, in rows, creating a textured, grid-like pattern. While the nails suggest order and structure, subtle variations in spacing and depth introduce shifts in light and shadow, disrupting uniformity. The nails symbolize both defence and vulnerability, reflecting the artist’s experiences of wartime trauma and a need for protection. By setting the nails in relation to one another, he creates a vibrating surface that challenges rigid geometry and engages the viewer’s perception.
Photo: Nicolas Brasseur / Pinault Collection.
View of the exhibition “Minimal”, Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, Paris, 2025.
© Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, Niney et Marca Architectes, agence Pierre-Antoine Gatier.