Anselm Kiefer @ White Cube

I have always been an avid admirer of Anselm Kiefer, ever since he set high standards at his exhibition at the Royal Academy back in 2014. His works are intimidating in their scale and adventurous in his use of materials ranging from mixed media painting to towering sculptures; there is something very powerful and daunting when confronted with any one of his works. However after seeing his work in 2014, I had high expectations for his next exhibition.

At the White Cube his work is nothing short of marvellous, yet it is too similar to his last exhibition, consisting of the same large scale works layered with toxic chemicals. However I will admit it is darker than before, both in subject matter and in the works themselves. By creating a dimly lit corridor filled with aisles of hospital beds made of lead he successfully echoes past horrors of war, yet there is nothing to specify which war exactly he is referring to. The subject is blurred between history and fantasy. What is most disturbing about the lead made hospital beds is the way that there is a dent in each bed that suggests the presence of a person (or absence of person?). The toxic infectiousness of the atmosphere made me want to leave the gallery. Which I did. I went to Fuckoffee round the corner, where I encountered my first bit-coin machine..