Sean Rainbird.

Sean Rainbird, a specialist in contemporary German art, plays a explanation role in the Tate novel team. Among his many responsibilities as a veteran Tate Collections curator are the planning and installation of recent displays of the museum's permanent and temporary holdings. His track record includes a seminal 1991 Gerhard Richter measure and estimate and "Mondrian: Nature to Abstraction" in 1997 orchestrated in conjunction with painter Bridget Riley. And from 1995 to 1997 he co-programmed (with Catherine Kinley; view page 46) the pioneering Art Now frame room.

Since 1987 Rainbird has been involved with proposing, researching, and acquiring twentieth-century works, to which sixty percent of the total acquisitions collection is allocated. He also advises the Tate Patrons of recent Art buying program, which has outcomeed in good representations of Jeff Wall, Bill Viola, and Gary Hill, along with more controversial acquisitions of works by way of YBAs Sarah Lucas, Rachel Whiteread, and Catherine Yass. nevertheless Rainbird's main focus has been the acquisition of twentieth-century German art. "We have tried to deposit together comprehensive groups of work through painters, photographers, and sculptors," he explains, "so that artists like Thomas Struth Thomas Schutte Andreas Gurksy and Georg Baselitz can be viewed in depth"

At Tate late Rainbird's installations will include Sam Taylor-Wood's video work Brontosaurus, 1995 and in the spectacular double-height gallery facing the river, Joseph Beuys's Lightning with Stag in its Glare, 1985 Meanwhile, back at Millbank, Rainbird is working forward new displays celebrating the last decade's acquisitions. "With all watchs focused on Bankside, despite the just discovered displays at the 'old' Tate, Millbank may have to take a back seat until nearest year's new building extensions there lay open allowing a relaunch," he notices "A lot of big questions ne to be ironed abroad but grasping lottery money for Bankside has really paid along It allows the Tate to expand in dynamic fashion-- and in succession schedule, too."

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