Johan Pas's reflection on Anselm Kiefer's 2016 exhibition at the Pompidou Centre and his reception of an honorary degree from the University of Antwerp examines how contemporary art continues to engage with mythological thinking through sophisticated exploration of history, memory, and cultural identity. Kiefer's powerful body of work exemplifies how modern artists address the complexities of European historical experience through visual and literary channels that blend factual documentation with mythological frameworks.

The intertwining of history and myth throughout Kiefer's artistic practice demonstrates how these domains remain profoundly interconnected despite modern attempts to separate them. His simultaneous engagement with literal and symbolic representations creates multilayered visual experiences that acknowledge both the concrete specificity of historical events and their mythological resonance in collective memory. This approach exemplifies how sophisticated contemporary art often functions similarly to traditional mythology—providing frameworks for understanding complex aspects of experience that resist purely rational explanation.

Kiefer's exploration of trauma and transformation positions his work within a tradition of European art that addresses historical catastrophe through symbolic frameworks. By incorporating materials that physically embody historical processes—earth, ash, lead—his work creates tangible connections to the past while simultaneously transforming historical remnants into new aesthetic configurations. This material transformation parallels the psychological processes through which societies incorporate traumatic experiences into meaningful narratives.

The academic recognition of Kiefer's contribution through an honorary degree from the University of Antwerp reflects how contemporary institutions value artistic approaches to history that acknowledge its mythological dimensions. This recognition demonstrates understanding that purely factual approaches to historical experience cannot fully capture its emotional and psychological significance. The exhibition Die Buchstaben (The Letters) further emphasises Kiefer's engagement with how symbolic systems—particularly language and text—shape our understanding of reality, demonstrating his sophisticated exploration of how human meaning-making processes transform raw experience into structured narratives.