Page 16 - ART GIANTS issue of World of Art (WOA) Contemporary Art Magazine

embracing a practice that allowed art to exist in a
WORLD-CLASS ART GIOVANNI ANSELMO: principles of Arte Povera, a movement known for its
perpetual state of transformation. Influenced by the

use of unconventional materials and rejection of formal
BEYOND THE HORIZON
aesthetic traditions, Anselmo created dynamic pieces
that actively engaged with the surrounding environment.
His work was never about mere representation but rather
about interaction, allowing materials to reveal their latent
Exploring the Invisible Forces That Shape Our World energies and inviting viewers to experience the cosmic
On August 16, 1965, Giovanni Anselmo experienced forces at play.
a moment of profound revelation while ascending Anselmo’s artistic philosophy extended beyond the
the Stromboli volcano. As the first rays of sunlight confines of the gallery space. His installations, often
broke over the horizon, he noticed that his shadow composed of everyday materials like stone, cotton, and
had seemingly disappeared, projected into the vast glass, embody an ongoing dialogue between human
openness of the sky. This fleeting yet powerful existence and the natural world. His works do not
encounter with the immensity of the universe attempt to impose meaning upon the viewer; instead,
fundamentally altered his artistic trajectory. From they present an open-ended engagement with the
that moment onward, Anselmo dedicated his work universe’s invisible yet omnipresent forces. His creations
to capturing and manifesting the unseen forces exist at the threshold of visibility, between what can be
that govern existence, energy, gravity, time, and perceived and what remains elusive, urging audiences to
orientation,all of which structure the reality we inhabit. reconsider their place in the vast cosmic order.
Throughout his career, Anselmo sought to challenge The exhibition Giovanni Anselmo: Beyond the Horizon
conventional artistic boundaries. He rejected the serves as both a tribute and an exploration of this
constraints of traditional painting and sculpture, instead remarkable artist’s legacy.

Giovanni Anselmo | Direction (Direzione), 1967–68. Fabric, glass, and metal
24.3 x 420 x 335 cm. Tate, London. Purchased with funds provided by an
anonymous donor 2009 © Giovanni Anselmo. Photo: © Tate Images

16 WORLD of ART