Anselm Kiefer - Artipelag

HAPPY NEW YEAR! If there is one particular exhibition you should start the 2023 art exhibition year with it must be the Anselm Kiefer exhibition at Artipelag in Stockholm. If you haven´t visited it already of course. But if you have, visit it again! 

The beautiful Artipelag in Stockholm celebrated its tenth-anniversary last year by presenting its largest venture to date, the exhibition Essence-Eksistence showing the work of the German artist Anselm Kiefer. Even though Kiefer is a giant in the art world, his work has never been exhibited in Sweden on such a large scale as at the Artipelag.

The exhibition is curated by Walter Smerling and shows paintings, sculptures and installations. Kiefer's work makes references to literary works, religion, scientific theories, and philosophical ideas that come together to form a complex contemporary vision. Kiefer's artistry includes a wide spectrum of subject matter, materials, and techniques, including both destruction and re-creation which is beautifully mediated in the exhibition.

And as an art student interested in materiality, it is indeed an amazing show to visit. The way Kiefer uses metal is not doable for most independent artists or suitable for most art studios but it is indeed inspiring to study the beautiful effects Kiefer creates. I especially loved the three pieces Palmsonntag (2006), Jakobsleiter (2007) and Palmzoday (2006) hung together:

The most profound impact of the exhibition was when I entered the last exhibition room, fully lined with black thick fabric which turned the exhibition visit into something else and truly fantastic. Suddenly it was not only with your eyes that you experienced the paintings, large sculptures and installations but also your hearing and your whole body. The surrounding fabric created a very special atmosphere that you could clearly feel with your body when you entered the exhibition hall. It was an incredible experience to walk around in that atmosphere amongst these massive installations and sculptures. What an experience!

This is ONE exhibition you MUST visit, but you only have 7 days left to visit this amazing art exhibition - it ends on the 8th of January - so go!