Anselm Kiefer’s Unveiled Photography: ‘For Robert Fludd’ at Gagosian Paris

Gagosian gallery announces a remarkable exhibition titled "For Robert Fludd." This showcase presents a collection of previously unexhibited photographs by the renowned artist Anselm Kiefer. Located at 9 rue de Castiglione, Paris, this exhibition marks a significant moment in Kiefer's artistic journey.

Photography, often overshadowed in Kiefer's vast body of work, emerges as a central focus in this exhibition. From the 1960s through the present, photography has played an essential role in shaping Kiefer's artistic practice, offering a fresh perspective on his creative evolution.

Gagosian's presentation complements "Anselm Kiefer: La photographie au commencement" (Anselm Kiefer: Photography at the Beginning), a retrospective organized by the Lille Métropole Musée d’art moderne, d’art contemporain et d’art brut (LaM). This retrospective, scheduled for October 6, 2023, through March 3, 2024, is the first of its kind, focusing exclusively on Kiefer's relationship with photography.

"For Robert Fludd" features a captivating series of steel-framed, black-and-white photographs by Kiefer. These images belong to his series titled "Les Fleurs du Mal" (The Flowers of Evil, 1994–2012), a collection inspired by Charles Baudelaire's renowned Symbolist poetry. Kiefer's fascination with the sunflower, symbolizing metamorphosis and regeneration, echoes the influence of artists like Vincent van Gogh.

The exhibition's dedication to the early modern cosmologist Robert Fludd emphasizes the connections Fludd drew between the microcosmic and macrocosmic realms. Fludd's belief that each plant on Earth corresponds to a star in the sky adds an intriguing layer to Kiefer's work, merging earthly and celestial symbolism.

Kiefer's "Les Fleurs du Mal" photographs juxtapose positive, negative, and solarized images of sunflowers with abstract splatters of photographic emulsion and tinting. This juxtaposition highlights the vitality and cosmic transformation associated with these iconic blooms. Additionally, "Jericho" (2010–15), a photograph from Kiefer's "Die Himmelspaläste" series (2003–18), reinforces the dual themes of growth and destruction present throughout the exhibition.

Anselm Kiefer, born in 1945 in Donaueschingen, Germany, now resides in France. His work has been recognized and collected by museums worldwide, with permanent installations at prestigious institutions such as the Musée du Louvre and the Panthéon in Paris. His artistic journey has been celebrated through exhibitions across the globe, showcasing his profound impact on contemporary art.

In 2017, Kiefer received the J. Paul Getty Medal in recognition of his substantial contributions to the arts, solidifying his position as a forward-thinking artist who pushes the boundaries of creative expression.

The "For Robert Fludd" exhibition at Gagosian Paris promises to be a memorable encounter with Anselm Kiefer's lesser-explored world of photography. Visitors will witness the artist's unique perspective, blending the earthly and the celestial, and celebrating the vitality of sunflowers as symbols of transformation. This exhibition is not only a testament to Kiefer's artistic versatility but also an invitation to delve deeper into the enigmatic and universe of this iconic artist.

#AnselmKiefer ANSELM KIEFER For Robert Fludd September 7–October 12, 2023 9 rue de Castiglione, Paris