Anselm Kiefer is one of our favourite artists and we are proud to hang one of his paintings in the lobby of Crosby Street Hotel in New York, even if it took eight men to support it whilst we hung it when we opened the hotel in 2009!

We couldn’t miss the opportunity to see the latest show at the White Cube Gallery in London, by one of the most significant living artists today.  We were overawed by the 74 year old’s creative energy.  These paintings are powerful and enormous!

Kiefer says critics describe him as an artist who always wants to overwhelm people, however, he insists it is “I who am overwhelmed and if I am not, something is wrong.”

It is hard to believe that Kiefer has made even larger paintings than these at White Cube.  He says, “I like them because they are so big that nobody can show them. I have placed myself outside of the art market because it is all about speculation now.” You will not see Kiefer’s work at global art fairs such as Frieze because he has instructed his galleries not to exhibit his work there. He passionately says “They destroy art.”

Superstrings, Runes, The Norns, Gordian Knot at the White Cube Bermondsey, sees the reoccurrence of Kiefer’s subject matter: mythology, astronomy and history. Kiefer makes the idea that “everything is connected,” visual.

As you enter the gallery, you see an installation consisting of thirty vitrines. Each vitrine, over 4 metres high, is filled with densely worked, stained and crumbling panels, and entwined masses of tubing, in undulating, knot-like arrangements. Kiefer’s new series of paintings feature barren scenes, bleak landscapes and rows of charred vegetation.  He incorporates organic matter.  You can almost hear the crunch of your step on the twigs he uses as media. We recommend seeing them in person!

The exhibition is on show at the White Cube Gallery in Bermondsey until 26th January.