Giovanni Anselmo, a Leader of the Arte Povera Movement, Dies at 89
An artist of many mediums, he used a vast array of materials, including stone, paint, piles of earth and even lettuce, to provoke thought and wonder.
Giovanni Anselmo's Contribution to Arte Povera
Giovanni Anselmo, one of the leading artists of the Arte Povera movement, passed away at the age of 89. Known for his sense of humor and provocation, Anselmo used various unconventional materials to challenge traditional artistic norms.
The term 'arte povera,' or 'poor art,' was coined by critic Germano Celant in 1967 to describe a group of young artists rebelling against established artistic conventions and materialistic pop culture. Anselmo was an early member and played a significant role in the movement.
One of his most notable works, 'Senza Titolo (Struttura Che Mangia)' or 'Untitled (Structure That Eats),' showcased his unique technique of juxtaposing opposing values. The piece consisted of two blocks of granite bound together with copper wire, enclosing a fresh head of lettuce. As the lettuce wilted, the smaller block sagged, eventually falling. This work revealed that seemingly distinct values, such as permanence and evanescence, were interconnected.
Exploring Different Materials
Anselmo frequently used stone, particularly large granite blocks, salvaged from construction sites in Turin. His preferred technique was to combine materials in visually dissonant ways, such as hanging rocks from walls using slipknots or embedding a compass in the surface of a granite wedge.
Aside from stone, Anselmo also incorporated piles of earth, photographs, reversed mirrors, words like 'TUTTO' and 'INVISIBLE,' and the color ultramarine into his works. Many of his pieces referenced his own body, reflecting his scientific fascination with the experience of being alive.
A prime example of Anselmo's elegant approach is 'Particolare', created in 1972. It consisted of slide projectors projecting the word 'particolare' in thick sans-serif letters. The word only became visible when a viewer inserted a hand or leg into the seemingly diffuse beam of light.
Giovanni Anselmo's Impact and Legacy
Anselmo enjoyed a successful career with numerous international exhibitions and appearances at prestigious events like Documenta and the Venice Biennale. He was recognized with the Golden Lion Award in 1990 at the Venice Biennale.
Represented by the Marian Goodman Gallery for almost four decades, Anselmo's work will continue to be showcased in upcoming exhibitions. A retrospective of his work is scheduled at the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain, and a major Arte Povera show, curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, will feature his work at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris.
Giovanni Anselmo's unique perspective fused perceivable and imperceivable realities in his art. He left a lasting impact on the Arte Povera movement and the art world as a whole.
