The influence that Van Gogh has had on Anselm Kiefer is blindingly obvious once you notice. I’m ashamed to confess that I hadn’t until now but have discovered I’m not the only one.
My friend and I were surprised to find how satisfying Kiefer/Van Gogh is as an exhibition. It helps that it’s small, only three rooms, meaning you can focus on what’s there without getting sensory overload.
Direct references abound as you can tell from the titles.
Sunflowers symbolise the cycle of life and death for Van Gogh and Kiefer: open during the day and following the sun then closing at night, releasing seeds once dead for new life to begin again.
Then you have some of Kiefer’s drawings from his 1963 pilgrimage, following Van Gogh’s journey from the Netherlands to the south of France. They look like Van Gogh drawings,
followed by this exquisitely fine drawing by Van Gogh
More to follow next week in part 2.