Beneath the Cobblestones, the Earth

Sigmar Polke (19412010) has been hailed as one of the worlds preeminent artists of the twentieth century. In his oeuvre, Polke worked through experiences of war, militarization and forced migration, and reflected on the image and the mass media in which it circulated. Taking an interest early on in the visual information contained in pictures and their agency, Polke set standards that younger generations of artists continue to emulate, and his work remains as relevant as everwhat might seem its historic dimension in fact turns out to speak directly to present-day concerns. Beneath the Cobblestones, the Earth is the catalogue for the exhibition devoted to Sigmar Polke at the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles. Bice Curiger, curator of the exhibition and a specialist in Polkes work, is editing the book. It gathers paintings, photographs, and films plus graphic art from 1960 to 2009 to illustrate the multifaceted quality of the artists output, which is informed by astute observations and powerful creative choices that reflect the artists sense of irony and love of experimentation. One focus of the selection of works is on the political dimension of Polkes oeuvre; he was an exacting analyst of the world around him and commented critically on politics, art, and history.