Gerhard Richter - Cologne Cathedral

Finished this August, this impressive stained glass window in Cologne Cathedral has been made from 11,500 four-inch 'pixels', cut from antique - or handmade - glass in a total of 72 different colours, and measures 110m2. Richter is an artist who works in many different media, and this window relates to his 1974 painting entitled '4096 Colours'. In the transition from painting to glass, Richter didn't use the original 4096 colours, as they would've been historically inaccurate or too pale, outshining those squares around them. Instead he chose a palette to echo the colours of the glass that would've been available in the 13th century.
Apparently the Archbishop of Cologne isn't happy with the window, preferring the more traditional figurative approach. The window seems to link the 21st century with the 13th very successfully, both in its' use of antique glass and with the archaic hues, but also in its' mosaic-like appearance. Medieval glass uses lots of little pieces of glass and is rich in colour and texture. I likes it, me.