Heroic Symbols 1969

Editor: So, this is Anselm Kiefer’s black and white photograph, "Heroic Symbols." The artist himself is in the field with a ruined classical building in the background, giving a salute. What’s going on here? Curator: Kiefer’s early work is difficult, isn't it? His actions and photographs confront Germany's complex and painful history, particularly concerning the burden of Nazism and historical trauma. Does the artist's gesture feel celebratory or critical to you? Editor: I see it as defiant. Can one reclaim heroism after historical atrocities? Curator: Precisely. Kiefer challenges us to examine how symbols of power and national identity are both constructed and, perhaps, corrupted. It seems he asks us to question the dangerous allure of such symbols. Editor: I didn't see it that way at first, but now, I think I grasp some of the layered complexity.