Anselm Kiefer's 'Exodus' Opens at Gagosian Chelsea

Anselm Kiefer's new exhibition 'Exodus' has opened at Gagosian's Chelsea space in New York, with concurrent presentations in Los Angeles. The works incorporate diverse materials including paint, terracotta, fabric, rope, wire, found objects, copper, and gold leaf. Kiefer's syncretic approach blends high and low registers, imbuing the pieces with gesture, metamorphosis, and alchemical symbolism. Hebrew inscriptions from the Book of Exodus appear alongside thematic references to its narrative mixed with other sources. The paintings serve as metaphysical allegories and meditations on loss, liberation, expropriation, and homecoming. The New York show features depictions of monumental buildings and ruins. Inspirations include the myth of Danaë and Zeus transformed into a golden shower, the Knights Templar, the Third Reich, and the Abbey of Montecassino. The exhibition was inaugurated on an unspecified date in 2022.