Iconic nail paintings and watercolors from Günther Uecker, famed for his participation in Group ZERO

Featuring both the nail paintings for which Günther Uecker (born 1930) is best known, plus watercolors made during his many travels, Notations provides an unusual dual-take on the German sculptor, op artist and installation artist. Made in collaboration with Uecker, the publication includes poems that Uecker wrote during his journeys, and excerpts from a day-long conversation and studio visit with Uecker by Hans Ulrich Obrist.

To create his signature nail paintings, Uecker works a mixture of white paint and carpenter’s glue into a dense, visceral surface, then hammers nails into the panels, varying their placement and groupings intuitively to form undulating painted reliefs that cast shadows in constant motion.

Uecker’s watercolors reveal a wholly different aspect of the artist’s oeuvre. These watercolors are made spontaneously on the road, during travels across Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Israel, Japan, the United States and Vietnam.

Interviewer(s): Hans Ulrich Obrist