Alkahest(2011)-Anselm Kiefer

 

(Image from Artsy)

Anselm Kiefer, born in 1945 in Germany, is one of the most important artists to emerge from post-war Europe and now works in Paris (White Cube, 2024). His practice explores memory, mythology, and history through large-scale paintings, sculptures, and installations. Kiefer is known for using unconventional materials such as lead, ash, straw, and earth to create works with powerful texture and symbolism. One of his pieces, Alkahest (2011), combines oil, emulsion, acrylic, shellac, and metal on canvas. The painting presents a heavy, layered landscape with a suspended saw, evoking themes of destruction and transformation. The title, taken from the mythical “universal solvent,” suggests both renewal and decay, reinforcing his ongoing dialogue with history and memory. Through Alkahest, Kiefer confronts viewers with the weight of the past while also hinting at the possibility of change.

(Image from Thaddaeus Ropac)