Georg Baselitz's Hero Series at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome
Georg Baselitz, a notable painter born in 1938 in Kamenz, is celebrated for his distinctive upside-down paintings from the 1970s. Having spent his childhood in East Germany, he relocated to West Germany prior to the construction of the Berlin Wall. Baselitz rejects abstraction, instead embracing a vivid Expressionist palette. The showcased pieces belong to his 'Heroes' series, created between 1965 and 1966 when he was 27, alongside related works like drawings and woodcuts. His imposing Heroes, though fractured, symbolize individuality without suggesting either hope or despair. During a press conference, Baselitz highlighted the subjectivity of his art, distancing himself from both realism and Transavanguardia, while aligning with figures like Antonin Artaud and Anselm Kiefer.
Key facts
- Georg Baselitz was born in 1938 in Kamenz.
- He grew up in East Germany and moved to West Germany before the Berlin Wall.
- The 'Heroes' series was created in 1965-66 when Baselitz was 27.
- The exhibition includes paintings, drawings, woodcuts, and 'Remix' works from after 2000.
- Baselitz's Heroes are depicted with small heads and cracked bodies.
- The artist distances himself from realism and Transavanguardia.
- He cites Antonin Artaud and Anselm Kiefer as spiritual influences.
- His poetics is compared to Italian Mannerist painters.
Entities
Artists
- Georg Baselitz
- Renato Guttuso
- Antonin Artaud
- Anselm Kiefer
Institutions
- Palazzo delle Esposizioni
- Artribune
- Collezione Froehlich
- MKM-Museum Küppersmühle für Moderne Kunst
- Collezione Ströher
Locations
- Kamenz
- Rome
- Italy
- East Germany
- West Germany
- Berlin
- Stuttgart
- Duisburg