St John’s Lodge 2007

Editor: This is Anselm Kiefer’s "St John’s Lodge" from the Tate collection. It's monumental in scale, and the monochromatic palette creates a rather somber mood. What narratives do you think Kiefer is exploring here? Curator: I see Kiefer grappling with German history and identity. The stark imagery evokes a sense of collective memory and trauma. How does the architecture, specifically, resonate with you in the context of post-war Germany? Editor: It feels like a descent, maybe a symbolic confrontation with the past? Curator: Precisely. Kiefer consistently challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths, to excavate the layers of history that shape our present. Considering his birth in 1945, what do you think this meant for his development as an artist? Editor: I never considered that perspective, I see that his personal history impacts the subject of his art. Curator: Indeed, and by grappling with the collective trauma of the war, he encourages us to foster critical dialogue, seeking a more just and equitable future.