Exhibition in Paris unites works by important Arte Povera artists

Giuseppe Penone, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Jannis Kounellis, Mario and Marisa Merz: Works by some of the most important artists from the Arte Povera ('Poor Art') movement that emerged in Italy in the 1960s are now on display in Paris.

Displaying more than 200 works, the Pinault Museum "Bourse de Commerce" is bringing together 13 of the most important representatives of this art movement, whose art is made from simple, ordinary materials such as earth, glass splinters, wood and twine.

The exhibition, which runs until January 20, is one of the most important shows dedicated to the avant-garde group, whose art is seen as a critique of consumerist society.

The core works include the symbolic igloos by Mario Merz (1925-2003) and the installations by Jannis Kounellis, one of Greece's most important contemporary artists, who died in 2017.

Kounellis' first work - a container filled with coal - and his last work - a wooden cabinet wrapped in iron plates - are both on display. They were created in 1967 and 2016.

Giuseppe Penone is also prominently represented. The 77-year-old sculptor, now one of the most important contemporary artists, will have an entire room dedicated to his tree installations, as will Michelangelo Pistoletto. The 91-year-old artist is best known for his conceptual sculptures and mirror images.