Anselm Kiefer in Conversation with Klaus Dermutz

Throughout eleven conversations with the Berlin-based Austrian writer and theologian Klaus Dermutz [de], the German artist Anselm Kiefer talks about his influences, subjects, approaches and materials. The book's German title, Die Kunst geht knapp nicht unter, comes from a written line on Kiefer's 1975 watercolour painting Nordkap, and was inspired by the impression of seeing the sun merely touch the horizon before rising again at North Cape in Norway.^[2]

Marie Luise Knott [de] of Deutschlandfunk wrote that the book deviates from the typical, trendy artist-conversation book by avoiding going into biographical details, and that Dermutz instead "creates a trusting space for conversation where Kiefer can reveal traces and paths in his work". She wrote that the repetitions of some subjects, which result from the multiple interview sessions, may first appear redundant, but as the book goes on, they reveal more facets of the subjects. She wrote that the book's greatest merit is the way it sharpens the perception of the particular energy that exists in Kiefer's visuals.^[3] In his review for Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Michael Opitz described the content as "highly insightful studio discussions" that provide very valuable information for those who seek a deeper understanding of Kiefer's works.^[2]