Anselm Kiefer on History as Clay in SFMOMA Video
In a video recorded at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Anselm Kiefer, the German artist born in 1945, shares his thoughts on history, describing it as something malleable. He states, "History doesn’t really exist. You can’t make it in an entirely objective way. So for me, history is like clay, something you can mold and create with." While surrounded by his works from the 1980s, Kiefer also discusses earlier pieces, such as his 1969 photo series 'Heroic Symbols' and the famous 'Die Meistersinger' series, inspired by Wagner’s opera and German folklore. This recording coincides with Kiefer's special visit to his permanent exhibit, 'I Sette Palazzi Celesti,' in Milan's Hangar Bicocca.
Key facts
- Anselm Kiefer was born in 1945.
- Kiefer compares history to clay or argilla.
- The video was filmed at SFMOMA in San Francisco.
- Kiefer's paintings from the 1980s appear in the video.
- The 1969 photographic series 'Heroic Symbols' (Heroische Sinnbilder) is mentioned.
- The 'Die Meistersinger' series is inspired by Richard Wagner's opera.
- Kiefer recently made a private visit to 'I Sette Palazzi Celesti' at Hangar Bicocca in Milan.
- The installation 'I Sette Palazzi Celesti' is a permanent exhibition.
Entities
Artists
- Anselm Kiefer
- Richard Wagner
Institutions
- SFMOMA
- Hangar Bicocca
Locations
- San Francisco
- United States
- Milan
- Italy