Anselm Kiefer opens former silk factory La Ribaute to the public in Barjac

Anselm Kiefer has opened La Ribaute, his former studio and home in Barjac, southern France, to the public. The site, a former silk factory purchased in 1992 and used until 2007, features underground galleries, installations, and an amphitheater. In an interview, Kiefer discusses his inspirations, ranging from prehistoric cave art (Chauvet, 30,000 years old) to Tintoretto, whose work he recreated for a National Gallery London exhibition. He cites his Monumenta project at the Grand Palais in Paris (2007) as his most challenging, where he combined painting, sculpture, and architecture, building seven houses and a tower he later demolished. Kiefer emphasizes the importance of memory and the past for creating the future, advising young artists to focus on work rather than networking. He expresses pessimism about the future, referencing the Imperial War Museum's concentration camp exhibits and arguing that human rights cannot overcome human nature. The interview is part of Artribune's 'Futuro Antico' series.