Page opening 7 from "The Heavenly Palaces: Merkabah" 1990

Editor: This is Anselm Kiefer's "Page opening 7 from 'The Heavenly Palaces: Merkabah.'" The photograph has a stark, almost brutal quality; the exposed brick and distressed surfaces evoke a sense of ruin. What historical narratives are embedded in this imagery? Curator: Kiefer often grapples with the weight of German history, particularly the Holocaust. This image, with its architectural decay, could be interpreted as a metaphor for the crumbling of ideologies and the lasting scars of trauma. How does the title, referencing Merkabah mysticism, complicate this reading for you? Editor: It suggests a reaching for transcendence, a way to move beyond that historical weight. So, is Kiefer presenting a tension between the earthly and the spiritual? Curator: Precisely. The broken structure grounds us in the physical, while the Merkabah points to the possibility of spiritual ascent. This tension, reflecting a dialogue between the profane and the sacred, is where, I think, Kiefer's work finds its power. Editor: That's a powerful duality. I see the intention now. Curator: Indeed. And by engaging with these complex narratives, we’re invited to consider our own relationship to history, memory, and the potential for transformation.