Arte Povera and South African Art in Conversation at Wits Art Museum
Opening on October 31, 2023, and continuing until December 9, 2023, the Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg will host a dual exhibition titled 'Arte Povera and South African Art: In Conversation.' This event, organized with the support of the Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg, celebrates the 55th anniversary of the term 'Arte Povera,' which was introduced by Germano Celant on September 27, 1967. The exhibition is divided into two parts: 'Arte Povera 1967-1971' curated by Ilaria Bernardi, featuring 13 prominent artists, and 'Innovations in South African Art, 1980s-2020s' curated by Thembinkosi Goniwe, showcasing local talent. Additionally, it is backed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and includes a bilingual catalog published by Silvana Editoriale.
Key facts
- Dual exhibition at Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg from October 31 to December 9, 2023.
- Commemorates 55 years since Germano Celant coined 'Arte Povera' on September 27, 1967.
- Curated by Ilaria Bernardi (Arte Povera) and Thembinkosi Goniwe (South African art).
- First retrospective of Arte Povera in Africa, covering 1967-1971.
- Includes 13 key Arte Povera artists and 14 South African artists.
- Supported by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy in Pretoria, and Consulate in Johannesburg.
- Bilingual catalog published by Silvana Editoriale.
- Video 'Arte povera' curated by Beatrice Merz and Sergio Ariotti included.
Entities
Artists
- 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
- Gilberto Zorio
- Jane Alexander
- Willem Boshoff
- Bongiwe Dhlomo-Mautloa
- Kay Hassan
- David Thubu Koloane
- Moshekwa Langa
- Bill Mandindi
- Senzeni Marasela
- Kagiso Pat Mautloa
- Thokozani Mthiyane
- Lucas Seage
- Usha Seejarim
- Kemang Wa Lehulere
- Germano Celant
- Ilaria Bernardi
- Thembinkosi Goniwe
- Beatrice Merz
- Sergio Ariotti
- Livia Montagnoli
Institutions
- Wits Art Museum
- Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg
- Galleria La Bertesca
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Italian Embassy in Pretoria
- Silvana Editoriale
- Artribune
Locations
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- Genoa
- Italy
- Paris
- Pretoria