Blogpost: Anselm Kiefer – Schirmer / Mosel

Posted by T • February 23, 2021

Posted by T • February 23, 2021

Anselm Kiefer – Schirmer / Mosel

Given my art related emissions, it should not come as a surprise that I harbour a bit more than a weak spot for Anselm Kiefer and his oeuvre. Having lived in different countries across three continents, I have yet to not seize the opportunity to see one his incarnations in the flesh.

Fairly early on I realized that studying Anselm Kiefer’s body of work was a bit different from other artists I harbour an interest in, in that he more I get the chance to acquaint myself with him and the background of his artworks, the deeper I feel drawn into his idiosyncratic matrix, which at every turn offers another myriad of labyrinthine of dimensions that enhance the experience.

With Kiefer’s ever expanding new endeavours and exhibitions, every now and then it is great to take a step back to take in the facets of the philosophic, literary and theological mosaic that has matured over more than three decades.
It is then that art historians  like Daniel Arasse help one to grind a new lens and detect new approaches to deciphering the ever-winding evolution of an intricately complex artists.

Schirmer / Mosel’s opulently illustrated monography on Anselm Kiefer sees Arasse take you by the hand to guide you down the rabbit hole of not only an artist, but traces of Germany’s and humanity’s history by shedding light on the sources and myths Kiefer refers to – be it ancient Nordic culture, the kabala, astronomy, alchemical practices, modern technology and everything in between.
While I own quite a book books that claim to encompass a “comprehensive” approach to capturing the essence of Kiefer, I find reading Arasse’s tome to be one of the more gratifying experiences. It certainly takes a bit of further research and initiative to work through the art historical references and scientific discourses that are weaved in, but it make the outcomes all the more rewarding.

Both for the uninitiated as well as the aficionado, I would recommend Schirmer / Mosel’s monography on Anselmo Kiefer as a must-have for anyone remotely interested in contemporary art as the way Arasse weaves a red thread through the book via illustrating the different media Kiefer works with and his faible for atavisms, serves as a metaphor for his artistic raison d’etre, existentialism and idiosyncratic school of thought. What Arasse’s elaborations culminate in is the conclusion that Kiefer’s DNA can be simmered down to his longing to fuse the individual with the cosmos through osmosis.

The fact that Arasse knows how to counterpoint seemingly dry topics with a refreshing wit and subtle humour paired with expertly documented details of Kiefer’s artworks, only adds to the experience.

One of the more recent Anselm Kiefer exhibitions, which is currently on display at the Franz Marc Museum, is Opus Magnum. The exhibitions is centred around German history with a focus on national socialism and the holocaust, comprised of installations that were inspired by poems of two of the heavyweights of German lyricisms, i.e. Ingeborg Bachmann and Paul Celan.

Again exquisitely illustrated, the accompanying catalogue not only showcases the exhibits but further elaborates on the mythical and historical contexts that inspired how Kiefer channelled his alchemy thematically.

What is particularly interested about Opus Magnum is that fifteen contemporary writers were invited to bring to paper what the still lives invoked in them along with ensuing dialogue.

Balancing literature and the arts, Opus Magnum is another inspiring tome with Schirmer / Mosel’s trademark to detail, which helps to revisit the exhibits as it opens new angles and horizons.

T • February 23, 2021

More recent blogposts

PJ Harvey @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Posted by T • March 14, 2025

PJ Harvey Sydney Opera House Forecourt 13 March 2025 Sydney, Australia photo courtesy of Daniel Boud and the Sydney Opera House.Caption Some artists perform. PJ Harvey transmutes. Like a figure walking between worlds, she never lingers too long in one place, never allows herself to fossilize into nostalgia. Instead, she reinvents - without ever severing the thread that binds her … Read more

The Get Up Kids/Ozma @ The Glass House 3/7/25

Posted by Aaron H • March 14, 2025

The Get Up Kids - Credit: AMH The Get Up Kids just finished the US leg of their 25th Anniversary Tour for their seminal album, Something To Write Home About with 2 nights at The Glass House in Pomona. Of course, I didn't wanna miss it. Following support from Indie-Rock band, Ozma -- who ran through tracks from their first … Read more

Chat Pile/Gouge Away @ The Glass House 2/22/25

Posted by Aaron H • March 4, 2025

Chat Pile Fans - Credit: AMH Chat Pile are about to wrap up their US West Coast and Canada tour with Gouge Away this week. I was fortunate enough to catch the sludgy rockers when they came through Pomona last week. Nightosphere - Credit: AMH Kansas City's Nightosphere has opened the shows every night. The trio's unique blend of shoegaze … Read more

Cursive/Pile @ The Glass House 2/14/25

Posted by Aaron H • February 18, 2025

Cursive - Photo Credit: AMH In a time of a lot of bullshit going on, spending Valentine's Day with my wife and Cursive at my favorite venue was a great escape. Cursive are out on the road in support of their newest album, Devourer, with support from Boston-Rock quartet, Pile. I hadn't previously heard of Pile and was surprised to … Read more

Luke Combs @ Accor Stadium

Posted by T • February 2, 2025

Luke Combs 01 February 2025 Accor Stadium Sydney, Australia On a balmy February evening in Sydney, country music fans from across NSW flocked to Accor Stadium for what promised to be a historic night. Luke Combs, the global superstar who has redefined modern country music, made history as the first country artist to headline a full stadium tour in Australia … Read more

Wardruna @ Enmore Theatre

Posted by T • January 28, 2025

Wardruna 25 January 2025 Enmore Theatre Sydney, Australia photo courtesy of Wardruna In the humid haze of a Sydney summer evening, the Enmore Theatre became a portal to another realm, a sacred space where time and place blurred. On January 25, 2025, Wardruna delivered a transcendent performance that not only captivated but transported its audience into the heart of Nordic … Read more

Best of 2024 Playlist

Posted by Loren • January 23, 2025

Sometimes I get all introspective and ask myself why I do this. Not very often, but the answer is always because I like music. It's that simple. I like to discover new stuff and I like to share it. Every year, the staff at Scene Point Blank sink a ton of time into 3 big Year End features. Part of … Read more

Lung @ Lee's Palace

Posted by Mirela Z. • December 10, 2024

Lung @ Lee's Palace Toronto, ON Canada November 19, 2024 Have you ever heard a distorted electric cello, with intense vocals and heavy drum beats? Powerhouse duo, cellist Kate Wakefield and drummer Daisy Caplan, are not to be underestimated! Seeing them for the first time perform live has left me wanting more! Read more

Better Lovers @ The Observatory 11/30/24

Posted by Aaron H • December 5, 2024

Better Lovers: Photo Credit - AMH Better Lovers are making the rounds again, this time with a new full-length LP, Highly Irresponsible, released earlier this Fall. The hardcore mash-up of ex-Dillinger Escape Plan and ex-Every Time I Die members recently brought their show to So-Cal, and I had the pleasure of seeing how things have been going since last year. … Read more

Rise Against/LSDunes/Cloud Nothings @ HOB 11/20/24

Posted by Aaron H • November 28, 2024

Rise Against Fans - Photo Credit: AMH Rise Against decided to hit the road this past fall and brought along L.S. Dunes. Depending on your city, different acts opened the show. Cleveland, Ohio's Cloud Nothings covered the crowd warm-up duties on their run through California. With a bill this stacked, I didn't want to miss it. Cloud Nothings - Photo … Read more

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025