Amsterdam’s Stedelijk and Van Gogh Museums both have strong links to Anselm Kiefer. While the former has acquired and displayed the German artist’s work since the 1960s, the latter, as its name suggests, is dedicated to showcasing the work of Vincent van Gogh, whom Kiefer cites as a major inspiration. As a result, the two institutions have joined forces for the first time to present “Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind” (“Tell me where the flowers are”), a two-part exhibition spread across both venues.
At the Van Gogh Museum, previously unexhibited works by Kiefer will be shown in combination with key paintings by Van Gogh, highlighting the connections between their practices. Meanwhile, the Stedelijk’s contribution will offer an unprecedented opportunity to see all of Kiefer’s works in the museum’s collection displayed together, and to understand his important role as one of the first German artists to address his homeland’s fraught history. The exhibition will also feature more recent paintings by Kiefer, alongside new spatial installations. Notably, a 24-meter-long painterly piece will fill the space around the Stedelijk’s historic staircase.
