Gilberto Zorio's Alchemical Arte Povera at Castello di Rivoli

A comprehensive exhibition of Gilberto Zorio's work is on view at the Castello di Rivoli in Rivoli, Italy. The show includes both historical installations and new pieces created specifically for the castle's spaces. Zorio, born in Andorno Micca in 1944, is a leading figure in Arte Povera, distinguished from peers like Giovanni Anselmo and Giuseppe Penone by his heterogeneous approach. His practice merges neon, electrical resistance, and movement, blending contemporary technology with archaic symbols such as the star, his trademark. Often called "the Alchemist," Zorio experiments to reveal and transform objects, making them potentially useful yet splendidly unusable. The exhibition is described as both primitive and sophisticated: primitive in its use of primal symbols, sophisticated in its engineering feats and elusive games. The central theme is the dialogue between permanence and memory, with Zorio avoiding seriality while approaching it indefinitely. The works are perfectly compatible with the space, contrasting dark rooms with neon light, and reconciling aerial lines with the three-dimensional installations and the grey "fortifications" of the setting. While the pieces could be moved elsewhere, it would be hard to find spaces as suitable as Rivoli. The exhibition recalls the provocations of the 1970s but with renewed order and serenity, remaining contemporary.