Anselm Kiefer, German Artist

On March 4th at the St. Louis Art Museum, Buzz Spector the Dean of College & Graduate School of Art spoke on the famous German artist Anselm Kiefer.

Spector explained the religious significance behind several of Kiefer’s works of art however he focused the majority of the time on a piece done in 1990 called “Breaking of the Vessels.” Being that it is modern art and for most the shards of broken glass mean nothing more than broken glass – however he shared with the audience the hidden depth and profound meaning behind this significant piece of art.

“Breaking of the Vessels” (1990) resembles a three-layered bookshelf and originally the vessels were on the shelves. When the Holocaust came about the vessels that contained evil fell from the shelves and evil was unleashed onto mankind.

“The art appears to be in a state of disaster because if it wasn’t a disaster – there would be no ruins and therefore the works of art that Kiefer demonstrates are in ruins to symbolize the disaster that was brought down on mankind during the Holocaust” (Buzz Spector).

CAC St. Louis Photographer, Jeremy Weter, provides the following images of the latest Gallery Talk presented at the St. Louis Art Museum.

Linsey A. Daman in front of “Burning Rods” which is another work of art by Anselm Kiefer symbolizing the suffrage of the Jewish population during the Holocaust.