Anselm Kiefer : Walhalla

Fantastic exhibition at White Cube, Bermondsey of new work by Anselm Kiefer.

I loved the contrast in this show between the dark, oppressive lead lined installation areas and the bright white spaces for the large scale pictures. Your first view was a dark dormitory with beds down the sides complete with lead bedding. Your eye was drawn to the end a photograph of the back of figure walking away from you. This was a really oppressive and yet beautiful space. The mood was enhanced by the health and safety sheet you were handed before you went in to warn you not to touch the lead!

Off this to the right of this corridor were other dark installation spaces. I loved the room which seemed to recreate his studio with lengths of film, more lead sheets, burnt objects in safes and more things than your eye could take in.

If you turned into the rooms to the left you were greeted by white spaces which a mix of sculptures and large scale paintings. One room just had a spiral staircase up the ceiling draped with strips of film and dresses hung from it on hangers. Reading the information sheet now I find this is meant to be the moment the Valkyries arrive at Valhalla with their robes discarded on the climb however, as with the other installations in the show, you don’t to have the work explained to find it interesting and beautiful.

I also loved the large scale paintings largely with high towers in desolate landscapes and built up not only in paint but also with layers of clay and shellac which give an impression of a deteriorating, dissolving surface. These gave wonderful swaths of colour in this otherwise grey and white show.

Closed on 12 February 2017.

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