The book, the idea of a book or the image of a book, is a symbol of learning, of transmitting knowledge.. I make my own books to find my way through the old stories.
Anselm KieferRead
I am interested in reconstructing symbols. It's about connecting with an older knowledge and trying to discover continuities in why we search for heaven.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a quest for understanding and reconnecting with historical symbols and knowledge in the pursuit of a higher existence.
Anselm Kiefer's quote emphasizes the importance of reinterpreting and reconstructing symbols from the past as a means of exploring deeper truths about human experience and the ongoing search for transcendent meaning, often perceived as 'heaven'. It suggests that art is not just an expression but a bridge that links us to timeless wisdom, allowing us to acknowledge the threads of continuity in our cultural and spiritual journeys.
Themes
ArtSymbolsKnowledgeHeavenContinuity
In practice
Example use cases
In a gallery talk, discussing how Kiefer's work depicts religious and spiritual themes.
More from Anselm Kiefer
All quotes →Life is an illusion. I am held together in the nothingness by art.
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Art is longing. You never arrive, but you keep going in the hope that you will.
Anselm KieferRead
But I believe above all that I wanted to build the palace of my memory, because my memory is my only homeland.
Anselm KieferRead
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