Kiefer and Van Gogh at the Royal Academy: A Celebration of Life Amidst Mortality

The first thing that catches your eye in this joint exhibition is a series of sunflowers, but they are the creations of German artist Anselm Kiefer rather than Vincent van Gogh. Instead of vibrant bursts of life, Kiefer’s sunflowers appear dead and charred, resembling dark voids. Beneath them lies a figure, or more accurately, a decaying corpse. At first glance—given the rough textures and varied materials in Kiefer’s works, including wheat, gold leaf, lead, and even a scythe—it may seem rather grim. Yet the body glimmers softly in the dawn’s early light, hinting at rebirth. As the exhibition unfolds, it becomes clear that despite the turmoil and intensity often found in Kiefer’s art, he shares van Gogh’s passionate embrace of life, even in the face of death.