καιρός remembered

La serenissima and India

La Serenissima, ‘the most serene Republic of Venice’, was a dominant trading power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, not only in the Mediterranean but as far as the Middle East and Asia. That’s why we see on one of Kiefer’s paintings which he made for the exhibition in 2022 in Venice the flag with the Lion of St. Mark – the emblem of La Serenissima – and traces of the Palazzo Ducale. And that’s why in the upper corner of the enormous painting we notice a ‘map’ of India. This detail struck me in particular. I don’t know why Kiefer has represented India the way he did, as a big festering open wound. Is he thinking of the past or the present?

Photos of the week: Questi scritti, quando verranno brusciati, daranno finalmente un po’ di luce, details of paintings, Anselm Kiefer, Sala dello Scrutinio, Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy 2022