The Saint Louis Art Museum is currently hosting a retrospective of renowned German artist Anselm Kiefer, featuring his latest series of paintings titled “Becoming the Sea.” This exhibition showcases Kiefer’s monumental canvases, each reaching a height of three stories, which explore the profound relationship between water and life.
Kiefer drew inspiration from the Mississippi River during a recent walk along its banks in St. Louis, Missouri. He reflected, “This river goes through America, and so with this conscience I have an inner overview of America, of the continent, of the world.” His paintings juxtapose the Mississippi with Europe’s Rhine River, symbolizing the interconnectedness of history and the cycle of life. The title “Becoming the Sea” is derived from the words of Beat Generation poet Gregory Corso: “Spirit is life … like a river unafraid of becoming the sea.”
Kiefer’s work often delves into themes of mortality, which have been a constant throughout his life. Born in 1945 in Germany, he grew up amidst the ruins of World War II and the lingering shadows of the Holocaust—topics that many in Germany sought to forget. He stated, “You know, after the war, there was not so much knowledge about what happened. The Germans, they put it underneath the carpet. Nobody spoke about [it].”
As an artist, Kiefer has dedicated his career to confronting this silence. Notably, during his early days as an art student, he photographed himself performing the Nazi salute—not as an endorsement but as a means of reckoning with the past. When discussing the role of an artist, Kiefer emphasized, “If the artist is in the world, like I am in the world, as I look what happens, then automatically you have a role.”
In his studio outside Paris, Kiefer continues to experiment with various materials, often using melted lead and fire to create unique effects. His approach incorporates elements of chemistry to produce unexpected colors, making each piece a testament to his artistic exploration. His works have gained significant acclaim, with pieces selling for millions and being displayed in museums worldwide.
Despite his success, Kiefer remains humble about his accomplishments. When asked about his feelings as he approaches his 80th birthday, he humorously replied, “You ask strange questions! I am not proud. I am disappointed!” He elaborated, “Every morning I go in the studio and say, ‘Oh, what I have done yesterday?’ You know, and then I continue. I continue. Proud? No, no. I don’t know this word for me, proud.”
The exhibition “Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea” will run at the Saint Louis Art Museum until January 25, 2024, offering visitors a unique opportunity to engage with Kiefer’s thought-provoking work. This retrospective not only showcases his artistic evolution but also invites reflection on broader themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time.
