Historical referencing plays an integral role in the work

of German artist Anselm Kiefer; more pointedly the ‘starring role’.

History is intimately entwined in his creations.  It is the foundation,

the essence of the what he hopes to communicate.

Kiefer seems intrigued with the idea of history as a means

for discovery and uncovering:  of self, of the past, of the possibilities.

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Even as a child, he seemed taken with the idea of preserving the

past, a history, to be later discovered/ uncovered

for critical review and revision.

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“I would dig tunnels in the garden, put drawings in them and bury them.

You can see this at Barjac on a bigger scale.”

Anselm Kiefer

(quote from the telegraph.co.uk)

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Barjac is a Renaissance town in southern France

It is the location of the Anselm Kiefer’s studio complex-

La Ribaute

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The idea of discovering/uncovering and then creating beauty and function from

debris and ruin is manifested in the style and construction of La Ribaute,

Kiefer’s elaborate 200 acre studio complex situated

near the historic town of Barjac, France.

True to Kiefer’s method of creating things in grand proportions

La Ribaute is a more than simply a work space.

It is an incredible work place:   leaning towers of stacked concrete blocks,

multiple barns, an impressive greenhouse storage structure,

outer building structures and ‘things’ just lying about.

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(image from coveringmedia.com):

Sweeping view of La Ribaute

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The complex looks as one would expect of Kiefer:

a construction from destruction,

a strange juxtaposition of chaos and order,

a weird and compelling beauty

a mix of past and present:

the past in form-  reminiscent of ruins, fragments from antiquity

the present in materials-  concrete, metal

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“When you have ruins you can start again.”

Anselm Kiefer

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La Ribaute:  the complex

The grounds

(image from telegraph.co.uk):

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(image from the guardian):

Interior spaces

(image from maisonanila.com):

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(image from arcspace.com):

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The greenhouse

(image from phaidon.com):

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(from sz-magazine.com):

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(image from theguardian.com):

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Things just lying about

(image from thetimes.co.uk):

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(image from telegraph.co.uk):

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