In an unprecedented cooperation, Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum will present a pioneering exhibition named “Anselm Kiefer: Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind.” This important event, which runs from March 7 to June 9, 2025, will highlight the fundamental relationship between Anselm Kiefer’s and Vincent Van Gogh’s works, providing art aficionados with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to examine the interaction of their creative legacies.
The exhibition will be exhibited as a diptych, with each institution concentrating on a distinct aspect of Kiefer’s work and his continuing influences. Visitors to the Stedelijk Museum will experience Kiefer’s gigantic 24-meter-long work, which is meant to encircle the museum’s ancient stairway. This new spatial piece, named “Sag mir wo die Blumen sind” (Where Have All the Flowers Gone), is inspired by Pete Seeger’s haunting folk song, which Marlene Dietrich memorably sung, and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. This painting demonstrates Kiefer’s ability to weave historical and personal storylines into an engaging visual experience.
In addition to this new installation, the Stedelijk Museum will show another new piece by Kiefer, as well as many of his classic pieces from their collection, including Innenraum (1981) and Märkischer Sand (1982). These sculptures showcase the museum’s long-standing association with Kiefer, which began with his solo display in 1986. Rein Wolfs, the Stedelijk’s director, highlights the exhibition’s relevance, pointing out how it juxtaposes Kiefer’s new works with his previous classics, providing a holistic picture of his artistic progression.
Meanwhile, the Van Gogh Museum will look into Vincent Van Gogh’s great effect on Kiefer’s art. This portion of the show will compare Van Gogh’s classics to Kiefer’s recent works, resulting in a dialogue between the two artists. One of the highlights will be the juxtaposition of Van Gogh’s La Berceuse (1889) and Kiefer’s Tournesols (1996), both of which use sunflowers as a key element. Emilie Gordenker, director of the Van Gogh Museum, discusses how Kiefer’s relationship with Van Gogh’s work has changed over time, revealing the Dutch artist’s long-lasting influence on Kiefer’s creative process.
Anselm Kiefer, born in 1945, is best known for his uncompromising investigation of postwar German history via strong, often sad paintings. Kiefer uses elements such as lead, concrete, shellac, and impasto to create sculptures that are as meaningful as they are tangible. His art frequently echoes Paul Celan’s poetry, German Romanticism, and, most importantly, Vincent Van Gogh. Kiefer admires Van Gogh’s organized approach to painting. Unlike many who are captivated to Van Gogh’s inner agony, Kiefer praises Van Gogh’s work for its “workmanlike clarity” and controlled structure, both of which have inspired his own artistic processes.
“Anselm Kiefer: Sag mir wo die Blumen sind” is more than simply an exhibition; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the fundamental ties between two art titans. Whether you’re a long-time Kiefer lover, a Van Gogh admirer, or simply an art enthusiast searching for a one-of-a-kind cultural experience, this show promises to be a 2025 highlight. Save the dates for a riveting voyage into the interwoven worlds of Anselm Kiefer and Vincent Van Gogh, right in the heart of Amsterdam.
