Giovanni Anselmo

Giovanni Anselmo, an Italian artist, emerged on the Italian art scene following World War II, becoming a prominent figure within the Arte Povera movement. 

Biography of Giovanni Anselmo

Giovanni Anselmo, born in 1934 in Borgofranco d'Ivrea, Italy, currently resides and conducts his artistic endeavors in both Turin and Stromboli.

His involvement in the Arte Povera movement began in 1967 when he exhibited his work within the framework of the ConTempL'azione exhibition.

In 1968, Giovanni Anselmo held his inaugural solo exhibition at the Galleria Sperone in Milan.

Giovanni Anselmo's Art Style

Giovanni Anselmo's early career saw him working as a painter, but he would later evolve his practice to explore the intricate relationships between nature, the finite and the indefinite, the visible and the invisible. His artistry draws from an array of visible materials, often seemingly humble and derived from either natural or industrial sources. These materials encompass light projectors, magnetic needles, granite stones, photographs, dirt, and ultramarine blue paint. Beyond the tangible, Anselmo delves into the realm of the invisible, incorporating magnetic fields, gravitational forces, and the surrounding space into his works. His creations evoke a profound sense of boundless time and space.

Among his most renowned pieces is "Untitled (Sculpture That Eats)" (1968), a work that poetically represents the interplay of time and nature. It features a polished granite block connected to a smaller block by a loose wire, with a lettuce leaf suspended between them. The tension in the work depends on the lettuce leaf; as it dries out, the tension diminishes, and the smaller block drops. To maintain the work's integrity, the lettuce leaf must be replaced approximately every week, symbolizing the idea that this sculpture relies on sustenance to exist.

In each of his exhibitions, Anselmo meticulously employs a compass to orient the granite fragments in alignment with the energy of the North Magnetic Pole. Positioned on the gallery floor, these granite blocks correspond with the astronomical positioning of stars in the sky. Anselmo's practice also prominently features the use of ultramarine pigment, a significant element he has incorporated since 1979.

Marian Goodman Gallery: "From Here to Infinity" – An Exhibition Showcasing Giovanni Anselmo's Artistry

Within the exhibition "D’ici à l’infini (From Here to Infinity)," Giovanni Anselmo's masterful artistry takes center stage. One of his remarkable works, "Il sentiero verso oltremare" (1992-2023), consists of an earth path etched onto the gallery floor. This path leads the viewer's gaze toward two vertical streaks of ultramarine paint adorning opposing walls. This blue pigment, originally derived from the precious lapis lazuli, symbolizes a portal to a distant and infinite horizon.

In alignment with his artistic practice of interconnecting past pieces, Anselmo ingeniously weaves this path with one of his iconic works, "Direzione" (1967-2023). "Direzione" comprises a compass firmly embedded within a block of granite, offering precise guidance toward the Earth's magnetic North Pole. In a subtle choreography, one of the projections of "Particolare" (1972-2023) aligns directly with the granite block, while the other extends in an alternative direction within the gallery space, remaining hidden until interacted with by a body or object. These works delve into the notions of visibility and infinitude, inviting contemplation.

Further exploration of visibility and infinity unfolds in "Particolare del lato in alto della prima I di Infinito 25.04.75" (1975). This series comprises graphite drawings on paper, revealing solely a 'visible and measurable detail' of the concept of infinity, represented by the letter 'i.' Anselmo's exhibition within "From Here to Infinity" presents a compelling journey into the boundaries of perception and the limitless realm of the infinite.