Visual Art Material “World” And “Variation”

Combining with the analysis and definition of the development of western visual arts and related concepts,the author regards Kiefer’s visual materials:“world”and "variation" as the dimensions and focus of this paper.According to the changes of Kiefer’s creative experience,this paper divides his artistic practice into three main stages,and analyses and explains his representative works in different stages.Then,it summarizes the characteristics of the “world”formed by "materials" in different periods of time,the reasons for the "variation" and the theoretical basis.From 1969 to 1980,through the composition of traditional(visual)painting materials,Kiefer devoted himself to building a regional “world” related to German history and culture.In this stage,Kiefer combines visual materials(photographs,wood veins,the landscape paintings)with German Nazi history,repairs and improves the identity of German people,and at the same time appeals the truth of history to the younger generation in Germany,thus arousing people’s reflection on the cruelty and violence of World War II.From 1980 to 1990,combined with the discovery and application of “lead ash”,Kiefer shifted the focus of his creation to the "transformability" of the "world" constructed by “materials”,which is an important period for the formation of Kiefer’s personalized material system.Kiefer’s artistic exploration of “ead ash” mainly includes two forms: one is to integrate “lead ash” with old photographs(landscapes,Nazi buildings,power poles);the other is to carry out the practice of “lead ash” installation series works(lead bed,lead aircraft).In his creation,Kiefer gave full play to the physical “transformation” characteristics of “lead ash” and promoted the transformation of materials into the “world” itself.For example,he transformed the past “Nazi architecture” into a retrospect of “Jewish victims”;he transformed “death”into "new life";he transformed the world of “technology” into “art”.From 1990 to today,this is an important period for Kiefer to sum up the past and face the future.At this time,Kiefer launched a multi-dimensional exploration of the past material “world”,the most representative of which is the multiple shaping of “palette”,“book” and “dress”.During this period,Kiefer’s works transcended the “boundaries”of German regionalism and different artistic categories(literature,sculpture,photography,poetry,drama),so that his material "world" was in infinite narrative.Finally,based on the analysis and comparison of the phenomena of“world”variation of Kiefer’s visual materials,this paper summarizes the characteristics of “world” of Kiefer’s visual materials and explores its contribution to the development of modern and contemporary western visual arts.