“Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow”: Inside Anselm Kiefer’s apocalyptic theme park

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:02:00 +0000

Here's a summer vacation unlike any other: Sophie Fiennes' highly unconventional documentary "Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow" takes you inside the symbolic and apocalyptic world of German artist Anselm Kiefer, who has spent almost 20 years building a dreamlike city to house his paintings in the south of France. It's difficult to use words to describe what Fiennes' camera captures as it travels slowly and deliberately through the buildings, tunnels, caverns and outdoor spaces Kiefer has constructed at La Ribaute, an abandoned silk factory near the town of Barjac. You could describe it as a permanent construction site, a ruin meant to evoke places like Pompeii, the set for a "Road Warrior" sequel or an almost fascistic museum and theme park built by Kiefer to honor himself.

Salon.com > Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow

“Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow”: Inside Anselm Kiefer’s apocalyptic theme park