Uncontainable Legacies: Theses on Intellectual, Cultural, and Political Inheritance

Gerhard Richter explores the human dilemma of receiving an intellectual, cultural, or political inheritance in his theses, such as Wrinkles, Inheriting a Feeling, Weight of the World, and Making Treasures Speak. He dialogues with philosophers, writers, artists, filmmakers, scholars, and pop-cultural phenomena to consider the problem of interpreting an inheritance that resists full transparency. Richter argues that inheriting is not the same as yearning for a former presence or nostalgically striving to preserve an identity, and his aphoristic theses illuminate how the constantly shifting nature of our relationship to what we inherit from others makes us who we are.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2021
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

In a series of thought-provoking theses titled "Wrinkles," "Inheriting a Feeling," "Weight of the World," and "Making Treasures Speak," German artist Gerhard Richter delves into the profound human dilemma of receiving an intellectual, cultural, or political inheritance. Through engaging dialogues with philosophers such as Heraclitus, Arendt, and Derrida; writers like Montaigne, Holderlin, Kafka, and Knausgaard; artists such as Michelangelo, Picasso, Anselm Kiefer, and Art Spiegelman; filmmakers like Jean-Marie Straub; scholars and scientists Freud and Einstein; and pop-cultural phenomena like the rock band The Who and the Broadway play "The Inheritance," Richter explores the complexities of interpreting an inheritance that resists full transparency.

Richter argues that inheriting is not merely a longing for a former presence or a nostalgic attempt to preserve an identity. Rather, it is a dynamic and ever-evolving process that shapes our identities and influences our lives. His concise theses, which are both philosophical and poetic, shed light on how the constantly shifting nature of our relationship to what we inherit from others contributes to our unique identities.

Through his exploration of these themes, Richter invites us to reflect on the ways in which our past and our relationships with those who have passed before us shape our present and our future. He challenges us to consider the ways in which we inherit not only material possessions but also values, beliefs, and cultural traditions. He encourages us to embrace the complexities of inheritance and to use it as a source of inspiration and growth.

In conclusion, Gerhard Richter's "Wrinkles," "Inheriting a Feeling," "Weight of the World," and "Making Treasures Speak" theses offer a profound exploration of the human dilemma of receiving an inheritance. Through his engaging dialogues and thought-provoking theses, Richter invites us to reflect on the ways in which our past and our relationships with those who have passed before us shape our present and our future. He encourages us to embrace the complexities of inheritance and to use it as a source of inspiration and growth.

Weight: 266g
Dimension: 136 x 191 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474487818