Anselm Kiefer

Quotes

• “When knowledge becomes rigid, it stops living.”
• “What interests me is the transformation, not the monument. I don't construct ruins, but I feel ruins are moments when things show themselves. A ruin is not a catastrophe. It is the moment when things can start again.”
• “What fascinates me about Duchamp is the idea of tearing down the wall between the art object and reality.”
• “Kandinsky was connected with Die Brücke and the Blue Rider: they had a concept and created a reality. But I prefer Jean Fautrier [French painter-artist; 1898 - 1965] with his suffering and self-absorption. And his purpose on bringing about changes was just as strong. As a result I see in Fautrier a stronger paradigm than in Kandinsky..”
• “I perceive existentialism as a necessity of decision. This is the essential aspect of existentialism and simultaneously the most subversive factor..”
• “Mondrian began with his paintings of the seashore, with blue trees and the cathedral. These paintings were totally symbolist paintings.. .Until the very end Mondrian remains a Symbolist and an Expressionist.”

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Key facts

Born

( 1945-03-08 ) 8 March 1945 (age 81) , Donaueschingen , Germany

Known for

Painting, Sculpture, Mixed media

Notable work

The Hierarchy of Angels (painting), The Secret Life of Plants (sculpture), Grane (woodcut)

Spouse s

Monika Kiefer ​ ( divorced ) ​ , Renate Graf ​ ( divorced</span>"}]]}'>div. 2014 ) ​

Awards

Praemium Imperiale

via Wikipedia infobox

Key dates

Born

8 March 1945

via Wikidata · CC0

Wikidata facts

Instance of

human

Gender

male

Citizenship

France

Place of birth

Donaueschingen

Occupation

artist

Educated at

Kunstakademie Düsseldorf

Languages spoken

German

Participant in

documenta 8

Student of

Horst Antes

Field of work

photography

Genre

abstract art

Movement

neo-expressionism

Work location

Karlsruhe

Represented by

Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

via Wikidata · CC0