bourse de commerce spotlights arte povera pioneers in major exhibition with over 250 works

on view until january 20, 2025, the exhibition centers on key figures of the movement, from giovanni anselmo to jannis kounellis.

myrto katsikopoulou October 31, 2024 5 min

bourse de commerce brings together iconic arte povera works

Running through January 20, 2025, the Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection hosts a landmark exhibition on Arte Povera, celebrating the legacy and influence of this pivotal Italian art movement from the 1960s. Curated by renowned art historian and writer Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, the show features over 250 works that bring to life the impact of Arte Povera’s key figures: Giovanni Anselmo, Alighiero Boetti, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Luciano Fabro, Jannis Kounellis, Mario Merz, Marisa Merz, Giulio Paolini, Pino Pascali, Giuseppe Penone, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Emilio Prini, and Gilberto Zorio. Together, their works illustrate the radical use of natural and industrial materials that define the movement, offering a comprehensive exploration of its experimental spirit.

bourse de commerce spotlights arte povera pioneers in major exhibition with over 250 works - 1 — installation view Arte Povera, Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, Paris, 2024. © Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, Niney et Marca Architectes, agence Pierre-Antoine Gatier | photo by Florent Michel | 11h45 | Pinault Collection | images courtesy of Pinault Collection, unless stated otherwise

navigating the landscape of pinault collection’s pieces

Set within the iconic architecture of the Bourse de Commerce, a former stock exchange transformed into a museum by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the exhibition invites visitors to move through a landscape of Arte Povera installations and sculptures. 50 emblematic works from the Pinault Collection are displayed alongside pieces from renowned private and public collections, including the Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Fondazione per l’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea CRT, and the Centre Pompidou.

Arte Povera emerged in Italy in the mid-1960s as artists from cities such as Turin, Genoa, Bologna, Milan, and Rome began to challenge conventions and expand artistic practices to include installations and performative works. These artists utilized simple materials like soil, vegetables, wood, and neon to create dynamic pieces that engaged viewers with energy and memory. By combining organic and urban elements, they aimed to evoke physical, chemical, and emotional responses in their audiences. The exhibition further contextualizes the legacy of Arte Povera, highlighting links with later artists whose work resonates with the movement’s themes. Contemporary figures like David Hammons, William Kentridge, and Theaster Gates continue this dialogue, extending the impact of Arte Povera across decades and disciplines.

bourse de commerce spotlights arte povera pioneers in major exhibition with over 250 works - 2 — installation view Arte Povera, Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, Paris, 2024. © Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, Niney et Marca Architectes, agence Pierre-Antoine Gatier | photo by Florent Michel | 11h45 | Pinault Collection

reflecting the spirit of early exhibitions of the movement

The Rotunda of the Bourse de Commerce reflects the collective spirit of the early Arte Povera exhibitions. Here, the works of the thirteen featured artists engage in a dialogue that recreates the intense, experimental atmosphere of the movement’s formative years. Upon arrival, visitors are immediately immersed in the exhibition’s world. Positioned in front of the museum, Giuseppe Penone’s Idee di pietra—1532 kg di luce (2010) embodies one of the core principles of Arte Povera: the fusion of nature and culture. This striking installation intertwines natural and human forces, capturing the essence of the movement.

In Gallery 2, the artworks of Jannis Kounellis, Marisa Merz, and Mario Merz, all trained as painters, explore new relationships with materials. Meanwhile, Gallery 3 is dedicated to Michelangelo Pistoletto, showcasing his Objects in Less and Mirror Paintings, which invite viewers to reflect on themes of illusion, reality, and perception.