Anselm Kiefer: The Seven Heavenly Palaces 1973-2001
The terrifically printed reproductions in this book come from a recent Swiss exhibition that set itself the goal of charting most of the major themes in Kiefer's painting. From his "Attic" pictures of the '70s, to the "Stone Halls" and "Clay Architectures" of the '80s and '90s, to his new "Star" and "Sunflower" paintings, we get a crisp, well-chosen overview. In his accompanying essay, Ransmayr reports on his visit last summer to the artist's 35-hectare studio site at Barjac, France. There, Kiefer has been working on a remarkable series of in situ installations, underground chambers, shed alcoves and small glass buildings, shown in photos by Thomas Flechtner. At one point, Kiefer walks, with a tall staff in hand, into the rolling, wooded landscape. As he tapers into the distance, a bulldozer follows, instructed to carve a new path from the trace of his footsteps.
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