Renowned art historian and curator Celant (Guggenheim Museum) presents an exhaustive retrospective catalog (1969-2006) of the work of prominent and controversial German artist Anselm Kiefer (b. 1945). Not only exhaustive but also exhausting at over ten pounds, this is one heavy book. Anselm Kiefer reflects the artist's prodigious, ambitious, and somewhat ambiguous oeuvre. Whether works on paper, paintings, or increasingly complex sculptural installations, Kiefer's art deals with intense aspects of human experience and historical memory, including his native country's fascist past. Sumptuous reproductions abound (300 full color), elucidating the artwork's haptic, collaged surfaces. After taking in Celant's dense introductory essay (which could use paragraph breaks) and the book's 11 interviews, one may wonder what more could--or should--be said, especially considering previous monographs. With an extensive bibliography; owing to the prohibitive price, this is recommended solely for art collections.--Prudence Peiffer, Washington, DC Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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