Anselm Kiefer

Anselm Kiefer (born 1945) is a German painter and sculptor, renowned for his large-scale paintings and installations. His work addresses themes of history and mythology, as well as Germany's identity in the aftermath of the Second World War. Considered one of the most significant contemporary artists, Kiefer's pieces are exhibited in prestigious museums around the world.

Hotel owner Naturhotel Forsthofgut in austria

In his works, Kiefer uses unconventional materials such as lead, ash and sand to create a special texture and symbolic depth.

the artwork "Alkahest" created 2011 by Anselm Kiefer

ANSELM KIEFER „ALKAHEST“ (2011)

Emulsion, acrylic, oil, shellac and object on canvas

The Alkahest series of works consists of a series of monumental canvases, sculptures and overpainted photographs. Alkahest is an artificial word used in alchemy to describe a solution whose recipe the alchemists were searching for: this solution could be used to dissolve any substance or break it down into its elements. In this work, the mountains and rocks are “dissolved” by erosion when they come into contact with water - sediments shift and the mountain is eroded piece by piece. The liquid Alkahest, which could anticipate or accelerate this natural process of nature, is contained in a glass attached to the center of the picture. The work points to Kiefer's deep interest in transience and the cycle of creation and destruction: