Man under a Pyramid 1996

Editor: This is Anselm Kiefer’s "Man under a Pyramid", an undated piece in the Tate collection. The sheer scale of the work is imposing, and that prone figure at the base feels so vulnerable. What historical narratives do you think Kiefer is engaging with here? Curator: Kiefer grapples with Germany's complex past. The pyramid, often associated with power and permanence, here seems constructed from the very earth, perhaps symbolizing the weight of history itself. How does the figure's placement challenge traditional heroic narratives? Editor: Perhaps it's about confronting the victims rather than celebrating the victors? It feels like a necessary act of remembrance. Curator: Precisely. Kiefer compels us to confront uncomfortable truths and question how history shapes identity. The abject figure then becomes a powerful statement on the human cost of ideology. Editor: I see now, the piece really reframes how we look at power structures and collective memory. Curator: Absolutely. Art can be a potent tool for excavating buried narratives and fostering critical self-reflection.