Speaking of Abstraction: A Universal Language

1999 / 51 min. / color
Directed by Michael Blackwood
Featuring: Brice Marden, Gerhard Richter, Günter Umberg, Gunther Förg, Helmut Federle, Jonathan Lasker, Philip Taaffe, Richard Serra, Robert Mangold and Frances Scholz

Featuring artists such as Brice Marden, Richard Serra and Gerard Richter, Speaking of Abstraction: A Universal Language presents a compelling discussion on the, oftentimes undefinable, meaning and motive behind abstract art. Filmed at the artists’ studios, the Dia Center for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Museum during their recent exhibition, “Abstraction in the Twentieth Century”, this portrait captures a dynamic group and their vastly unique styles.

Though abstraction tends to be seen as a modern artistic development, Richter notes, “I can’t see the history of abstract painting as an invention of modern times because I think it has always been around. Buildings are abstract, patterns and ornaments are abstract, and therefore abstraction is quite normal for me.” (Gerard Richter). Abstraction continues to be a viable creative path for contemporary artists of all generations, many of whom embrace it as the most inclusive and fundamentally resonant of artistic languages.

Directed by
Michael Blackwood

Writing Credits
Sasha Newman

Cast
Helmut Federle
Günther Förg
Jonathan Lasker
Robert Mangold
Brice Marden
Gerhard Richter
Frances Scholz
Richard Serra
Philip Taaffe
Günter Umberg

Produced by
Michael Blackwood … producer
Christhart Burgmann … executive producer
Imke Wallefeld … executive producer

Cinematography by
Uli Fischer
Mead Hunt

FilmEditing by
Julie Sloane

Production Management
Kathleen Diehl … production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie Sloane … associate director

Sound Department
Felix Andrew … sound recordist
Ed Cantu … sound recordist
John Murphy … sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Amy Bostwick … still photographer

IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1833792/

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