Arte
Povera
-
literally 'Poor Art' - was first defined as a
movement in 1967 by the Italian critic Germano
Celant, who became its main propagandist.
Predominantly an Italian tendency, it remained
influential until the late 1970s. The works, which
were primarily three-dimensional sculptures, were
made from the simplest of materials and natural
elements. Mud, twigs, cloth, rags, paper, felt and
cement were all used in an attempt to fuse nature and
culture in a reflection of contemporary life. The
artists were like alchemists, extracting metaphysical
truths from these basic materials. Opposed to the
cold detachment of Minimalism, they desired a
more sensory and impassioned type of art.
Representative
painters:
Kounellis, Merz, Penone, Pistoletto,
Zorio