Anselm Kiefer à La Tourette

Very impressed by Le Corbusier’s architecture, Anselm Kiefer spent three weeks among the brothers of the La Tourette priory in 1966. He later said that the place inspired him the “spirituality of concrete” – a core material in his own work. Since then, Anselm Kiefer has developed a powerful and unique vision within contemporary art. His exhibitions in the most prominent cultural institutions throughout the world, among which the Grand Palais (Monumenta 2007), the Pompidou Center, the Bibliothèque Nationale in 2016 and the Musée Rodin in 2017, have made him a leading figure of contemporary art today.

52 years later, Anselm Kiefer was invited to return to La Tourette. For the artist, this come back was an occasion to rediscover a spiritual place that held a special place for him. Part of the 2019 Contemporary Art Biennale of Lyon, the exhibition features an exceptional selection of artworks ranging from monumental sculptures, to window cases, paintings and artist’s books.

The catalogue published for the occasion also includes a series of exclusive photographs taken by Anselm Kiefer at La Tourette that reveal his vision of Le Corbusier’s architecture. 

It also contains a text written by the artist in 1966 following his stay at the priory published for the very first time, in which Anselm Kiefer shares his personal thoughts on the architecture, Le Corbusier as well as his stay at La Tourette.

Born on March 8, 1945, Anselm Kiefer is a German contemporary plastic artist. He currently lives and works in Croissy-Beaubourg, France.