The use of materials in Anselm Kiefer's paintings; straw and lead

Abstract

While the Second World War caused great havoc and destruction all over the world, these effects also had an impact on the understanding of art of the period. Many artists who reflect these influences on their works with all their dimensions have created their art by developing different forms of sensibility. Anselm Kiefer, who stands out among these artists, is known as one of the most important living artists of today's art world. His works deal with recent German history, the destruction and violence of the Nazi Era. The works he deals with around these topics also include myths, legends and stories from different world cultures. The extraordinary methods and use of materials that Kiefer uses in his works are the most important features that distinguish him from his contemporaries. Utilizing molten lead and straw, as well as many natural and chemical elements, the artist has developed a different language of expression by integrating all these materials into his paintings on a gigantic scale.

This article, which deals with the symbolic relations and usage methods of the materials used by Anselm Kiefer in his works, mainly focuses on the use of straw and lead in the artist's canvas paintings. In this context, the works created by the artist using straw and lead were investigated in all aspects and tried to determine the place and importance of these materials in Kiefer's artistic practices. In the first part of the study, Kiefer's artistic personality, artistic approaches and thematic approaches in his works were examined. In the next section, the types of materials used in his works, the importance of these materials for the artist and the way these materials are performed are discussed. In the last part of the study, the artist's practices regarding the use of straw and lead were examined, and the symbolic, historical and metaphorical meanings of these materials, the way they were used in his works, their relations with the subject and their relations with the works were tried to be analyzed in the context of sample works.