Baselitz's Final Venice Show Warns of History Repeating
Georg Baselitz passed away just one week prior to his last exhibition, 'Eroi d’Oro (Golden Heroes)', which is taking place on San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice until 27 September. This showcase includes large upright artworks featuring inverted nude figures, predominantly portraying his wife, Elke Kretzschmar, alongside one self-portrait. Baselitz referred to these pieces as a 'summation' of his life, reflecting on aging while intertwining themes of history and politics. The exhibition appeared detached from the political upheaval of the Biennale. The article draws parallels to the current political landscape in the UK, where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage asserts a significant transformation. Concerns about political influence in museums echo sentiments from 1930s Germany. Baselitz's 'hero' artworks will be honored at Thaddaeus Ropac gallery later this year.
Key facts
- Georg Baselitz died a week before the opening of his final exhibition 'Eroi d’Oro (Golden Heroes)'.
- The exhibition is on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice until 27 September.
- Paintings show a single inverted naked figure on a golden ground, mostly Elke Kretzschmar.
- One painting is a smaller inverted self-portrait of Baselitz resembling Hokusai.
- Baselitz recorded two short statements describing the works as a 'summation' of his life.
- The exhibition felt distanced from political furore at the Biennale.
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed a historic shift in UK politics after recent council elections.
- A memorial exhibition of Baselitz's 'hero' paintings will take place at Thaddaeus Ropac gallery later this year.
Entities
Artists
- Georg Baselitz
- Elke Kretzschmar
- Hokusai
- John-Paul Stonard
Institutions
- The Art Newspaper
- Thaddaeus Ropac gallery
- The Art Station
- Derby Museums Trust
- New Art Exchange
- Birmingham Museums Trust
- Reform UK
Locations
- Venice
- San Giorgio Maggiore
- United Kingdom
- Wales
- Saxmundham
- East Suffolk
- Nottingham
- Birmingham
- Germany