jannis kounellis

jannis kounellis
fondazione arnaldo pomodoro, milan, italy
24 september 2006 - 11 february 2007

a former industrial site like the pomodoro foundatio (once a turbine production plant)
is perfect for hosting sculptures by the greek artist jannis kounellis. kounellis is one of the
founding figures of the ‘arte povera’ movement. his career dates back to 1958, and almost fifty year later,
a combination of new projects (done in situ) with some of his ‘historical’ creations are shown.

jannis kounellis broke with painting in favor of sculptural and performance art. he has adopted
the idea that art should be replaced by life itself. from 1969 onward, burlap, iron, cotton, parrots
and cactuses are joined by stone and wood, coffee, fire, plaits of hair, eggs, rope, rats, beetles, crows,
beans and all sorts of grain, gold, smoke, mattresses and sewing machines... with this expanded lexicon
kounellis begins to concoct more complex combinations, in an obvious attempt to tell us something.
in his work ordinary materials and objects are imbued with dramatic power, evoking history, memory
and the reality of our present day experience.